FAQs
What is a labor union?
A labor union, or trade union, is an association of wage-earners who unite to maintain and improve their employment conditions.
Why join a labor union?
America’s 15.5 million union members—working people from all walks of life—join together to gain a voice at work. Union members have a say in their pay, benefits, working conditions, and how their jobs are performed. This collective voice provides them with a "union advantage."
What is the US-UNM Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)?
This is the legally binding contract between UNM and the US-UNM union. It outlines negotiated wages, hours, and terms of employment. The US-UNM agreement supersedes UNM policies and procedures. Parts or all of the contract may be renegotiated annually depending on the agreed terms.
What happens if a contract expires?
If a new contract is not ratified by the expiration date, state law ensures the existing contract remains binding until a new one is finalized. This means the union is never without a contract. the sustainment of a previous contract is known as an “evergreen clause.”
Click here for the latest US-UNM Contract Agreement.
I believe my boss has violated the US-UNM agreement or UNM policies. What can I do?
Contact the union immediately at unitedstaffunm@gmail.com to share your situation. Any violation of the agreement is subject to the grievance and arbitration proceedings found under Article 21 (Grievance) and Article 22 (Arbitration).
Note: You only have twelve working days from the date you knew (or should have known) of the violation to file a timely grievance.
Contacting the union immediately is critical.
I sent an email to the US-UNM union; when will they respond?
Per the US-UNM agreement, the union has up to three working days (excluding holidays) to respond to an inquiry.
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Am I part of the US-UNM bargaining unit, and can I join the union? How can I tell which positions belong to the unit? Unfortunately, not all UNM staff members are part of the US-UNM bargaining unit. Broadly speaking, the unit covers designated positions in grades 3–12, as listed in Appendix A of our contract. To qualify, these positions must also have an FTE of 0.5 or higher.
You can find the full list of covered positions in Appendix A of the US-UNM contract, located under the Contracts and Agreements section of this website.
No. In labor relations, a bargaining unit is a group of employees with a clear community of interests who are represented by a single labor union during collective bargaining and other dealings with management.
A union member, however, is an employee who affirmatively elects to join the union, pay dues, and participate in union decision-making.
Simply visit the Membership Page on this website to download our membership form. Once you have filled out and signed the form, you can submit it in one of two ways:
- Email: Send the completed form to unitedstaffunm@gmail.com.
- Mail:
United Staff UNM, Local 6155
P.O. Box 67818
Albuquerque, NM 87193
Per Article 20 of the US-UNM agreement, you may sign and date the document and write the words “Received Only.” This indicates that your signature confirms receipt of the document rather than agreement with its contents.
Under the agreement, you are also afforded five working days to submit a written rebuttal to any document you sign. Management is required to attach your rebuttal to the original document.
Just simply go to the Membership page on this website and download our membership form, fill it out and sign it.
Membership Form
- You can email us at unitedstaffunm@gmail.com, and send us the completed form.
OR - You can mail in the membership form:
United Staff UNM, Local 6155
P.O. Box 67818
Albuquerque, NM 87193
Welcome to the Union!
My boss wants me to sign a document, and I do NOT agree with it. Do I have to sign it?
Per the US-UNM Agreement under Article 20, you can sign and date the document and write the words “Received Only.” This means your signature does not imply agreement with the document but rather receipt only.
Per the US-UNM Agreement, you are also afforded 5 working days to supply a written rebuttal to any document that you sign. Management must attach your rebuttal to the original document.
Are labor unions relevant? What have they actually accomplished for workers?
Absolutely, labor unions are relevant. Here is just a small list of rights that have been produced, in large part, by Labor Unions. See if you have experienced any of these worker’s rights.
- The eight-hour workday, the 40-hour work week and weekend
As early as 1866, Labor unions first began lobbying for an eight-hour workday and achieved this with the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938. This law also provided minimum wage standards, overtime compensation, and the prohibition of utilizing child labor in the workplace. - Workplace Safety Laws and Standards
In 1970, the Occupational Health and Safety Act was passed and signed by President Nixon. The Act’s passage happened, in part, by the labor unions successful lobbying of Congress and the White House for this legislation. - Civil Rights Act/Title VII (1964)
This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination by employers or unions on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion or gender. Again, several labor unions were instrumental in lobbying Congress and the White House for passage of this law. Moreover, labor unions have made sure this law has been followed in the workplace by filing grievances when violated and pursuing litigation when necessary. - Unemployment Insurance and Social Security
Workers have been able to have a safety net when they fall upon difficult times such as unemployment, injury, or old age. Unemployment Insurance and Social Security have been two benefits that labor unions initially fought to have passed. Unions continue to fight and support unemployment and social security benefits for all workers.