September 7, 2026
Hi Colleagues --
Happy Labor Day to you all!
Although today is marked by barbeques and family get togethers signaling the end of summer, it is important to take a minute and acknowledge our union.
This year is the 50th anniversary of CSU-AAUP. Our first union contract was ratified April 1, 1977. This academic year we plan to celebrate our successes and work to make our union even stronger.
Over the last 50 years, our union has won a number of workplace guarantees that we take for granted, though faculty at most other universities do not have such protections. These include:
- safeguards for academic freedom;
- strong evidentiary proof in cases of discipline;
- required faculty involvement in curriculum decisions, the hiring of faculty and administrators, evaluations and termination of faculty, and discontinuance of programs;
- transparent and fair promotion and tenure processes;
- multi-semester contracts, sick days, emeritus status, tuition waivers for part-time faculty;
- research and professional development funding for all faculty, full and part-time;
- small class sizes;
- free parking;
- and much, much more.
Because of your union, administrators and politicians cannot behave as they do in states like Florida and Texas and eliminate tenure and academic freedom, close departments and programs for ideological reasons, fire faculty on a whim, or dictate the curriculum.
Our workplace reflects the strength of our union. For 50 years, we have done well, but we can do better.
CSU-AAUP, like all other unions, has been impacted by regressive court rulings. The most serious one was the 2018 Janus Supreme Court case that was designed to defund public sector unions. Today, bargaining unit members do not have to contribute to the financial well being of their union by paying dues. These “free loaders” get the same raises, health and pension benefits, good working conditions, and representation in discipline cases or promotion and tenure disputes as the dues paying members of our union for free.
Union “free loaders” weaken our organization, making it more difficult to win workplace victories and legislative advances.
50 Years, 100% Union.
To celebrate our half century anniversary let’s make sure that all faculty at the four Connecticut State Universities are 100% union. Are you, your colleagues, your fellow department members (full and part-time) dues paying union members? If not, or you are not sure, fill out this form (you won’t have dues deducted twice if you sign up twice). If you are not a CSU-AAUP dues-paying member, please let us know why so we can help improve what we do.
Dues are only 1% of your salary. But they help support the work we did just this year that ensured all faculty got a 4.5% raise, that resulted in a fair contract with improvements and no concessions, and that helped get CSU students the tuition assistance that previously was only available at the Community Colleges (PACT).
These dues also give you access to discounts and benefits provided by our affiliate the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). With 1,875 million members nationwide, AFT is able to negotiate significant discounts on a variety of services, entertainment, and shopping. But these discounts are only for dues-payers. For these discounts see here.
More information about our 50 Years, 100% Union campaign will be coming soon.
In solidarity,
Louise
