Who is covered by the current bargaining agreement?

The Elon Faculty Union is the exclusive collective bargaining representative for all limited term, visiting, and adjunct faculty employees at Elon University teaching at least one credit-bearing undergraduate course in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communications, School of Education, or Martha & Spencer Love School of Business.

Can I be fired for joining the union?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! It is illegal for employers to discriminate against employees’ union activity. Read more here.

Why do I have to join? I thought I became a member automatically.

In much of the South, corporations have heavily lobbied for so-called “right to work” laws, which require that every worker actively choose to join the union, instead of all workers being automatically enrolled.

This is part of a concerted effort to weaken worker power. The only way to overcome their efforts is to ensure that we all educate each other about the importance of joining. The path to a strong contract is simple: staying united, with a strong and sizable membership base.

Why should I join?

Every member makes us stronger. The larger our membership, the more powerful our voice.

Being a dues-paying member means you have a voice in our union, and a vote on the contract we negotiate. You can also vote in union elections and serve as an officer of the union. Join here.

Our parent union SEIU has also negotiated access to significant discounts on airfares, rental cars, and more: if you are a union member, sign up here.

How much are dues?

Dues are 1.5% of your monthly paycheck, up to $50 per month. If your paycheck is zero for a particular month, dues will not be deducted.

The dues you will pay are far outweighed by the pay raises we negotiated in our first contract.

How do I learn about union events and activities?

We regularly email members about events and activities. Check your Elon email and look for “Union News” in the subject line. You can also check our calendar.

How do I take advantage of Professional Development funds?

In accordance with the terms of our contract, Elon has established a professional development fund for bargaining unit members. The fund consists of $11,000 in each year of the contract. These funds can be used to support attendance at an academic conference or other relevant professional development activity related to support of teaching in grants of up to $700 per employee per academic year. The funds are administered by Provosts Office on a first-come, first-served basis.

How do I get involved in the union?

We encourage all members to attend our monthly Virtual Town Halls and social events. The best way to get involved in your union and to meet awesome colleagues is by joining a committee. Even if you are only at Elon for a semester, you can still make an impact.

What is the COPE donation on my membership application?

COPE is the Committee on Political Education. Unions are not allowed to use dues money for political activity. SEIU efforts to elect worker-friendly politicians depend on contributions from members. The terms of our contract with Elon don’t allow a checkoff donation for COPE as part of payroll deduction for dues. You can donate directly to COPE here.

Why SEIU?

The Elon Faculty Union’s parent union is the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU. As a member of the SEIU Southern Region (we’re Local 32!), we are proud to unite with nearly 2 million other workers in SEIU-supported unions, including over 100,000 who work in higher education.

Joining SEIU allows our smaller union access to the funds and resources of a much larger union. A unionization effort takes time and energy from us, but it also takes lawyers, paid organizers, and other expensive resources. With the backing of SEIU, we can afford what it takes to successfully unionize at a wealthy private university.

In addition to funds and resources, partnering with SEIU means working with an organization that shares our values. SEIU spearheads the Fight for $15 movement and contributes to other racial and economic justice-focused campaigns for worker rights across the country.

We are proud to partner with an organization that cares about higher-ed workers’ rights. SEIU started a higher ed organizing arm called "Faculty Forward" in 2013 and has since expanded it to Graduate Workers Forward.

Finally, SEIU has proven they can help us WIN. Whether it’s Duke University, Miami Dade College, Fordham University or Knox College, Starbucks or Heine Brothers Coffee, Dignity Health workers or Chicago window washers, this 100+ years-old institution has the means and the history to get things done. Read more here about how SEIU helps members achieve unionization wins.