Your Association health care refund that each member had received early in the fall of 2017. They also were impressed with how the local chapter kept membership informed through regular e-mails regarding meetings with administration at USM and statewide AFUM matters. They also remarked that they were amazed by the amount of work that AFUM did behind the scenes.
From The Faculty: What Our Union Really Stands For By: Dr. Paul Johnson, University of Southern Maine, School of Social Work
O
n June 27th, 2018, the Supreme Court barred public employee contracts that required workers to pay union dues. This is referred to as “Fair Share,” whereby employees pay a reduced rate that entitles them to complete union assistance. Although I am no legal scholar, it is my understanding that the Supreme Court’s majority decision utilized the First Amendment, and one’s right to free speech, their argument being that compelling members to pay a reduced fee which would provide them all the protections afforded to all full fee paying members, was violating their first amendment right. In Maine, this decision only impacts those who work in higher education, and not in our K-12 public schools. I personally disagree with the ruling and believe our union will only grow stronger the more we talk about the benefits of joining. Where do we go from here? Recently, at the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham, Portland, and Lewiston/Auburn campuses, the Associated Faculties of the Universities of Maine (AFUM-the MEA’s higher education local) held a recruitment/informational drive. Members met and talked with those who didn’t belong, provided them with information and literature about the organization, including the advantages and benefits of becoming a “full member.” AFUM also took the opportunity at each of the campuses to meet and listen with as many faculty as possible about their concerns and any questions or suggestions they might have. Most surprising was that some faculty were unaware that they were “Fair Share” members and not “Full Members.” Several were extremely apologetic saying that monthly dues were being taken from their pay check. Hence, they assumed they were full members of the union. Regarding the faculty paying the full union dues, they stated that they were extremely appreciative of what AFUM had done over the past several years at USM. Many mentioned the significant 26
Maine Educator • November 2018
The reason this is of significance is despite the ruling of the Supreme Court’s majority decision that Unions compel individuals to support views they find objectionable, AFUM addresses tangible issues which are of significance to all. For example, it promotes quality and affordable health insurance, advocates for adequate raises and salary increases to a level commensurate with one’s peers. It protects shared governance, supports academic freedom, provides flexible family and medical leave policies, lowers the cost of medical copays, and provides faculty with representation. These are not abstract or conceptual issues. They are real and have meaningful importance to all the faculty at the University of Southern Maine. Over the past several years, AFUM has been anticipating this ruling from the Supreme Court. It has never been a matter of if but when this decision would be handed down. I believe that this ruling provides AFUM with an opportunity. For many years, we were somewhat complacent in our attitude that it was ok to have some colleagues pay a reduced amount but still receive all the benefits of a full paying member. This court decision and the recruitment and informational drive have confirmed that we need to ensure that all faculty become AFUM members. AFUM is not about curtailing one’s views and opinions, indeed to make that assertion in an academic setting is rather ingenuous. Rather, supporting differences and the exchange of ideas is what higher education is all about. We encourage our students to question and challenge what we are saying and what they are reading. We want all to think critically about what we do and how we could improve things. Hence, we as AFUM members need to welcome all. When new faculty join the University, we need to be ready to meet with them and inform them of the numerous benefits of joining AFUM. By everyone being a member, this can have benefits not only for our members but also positive outcomes for our students and the citizens of Maine. Being a member of MEA and AFUM is not a theoretical, ideological concept. Rather, it is meaningful and has profound implications. It means that we as members take seriously our working conditions, that we speak up about the need for quality and affordable health insurance, that we take very seriously the importance of shared governance, and that we not only speak about academic freedom, but embrace and take full advantage of that right. It means that we have to be willing to meet with the Administration, Board of Trustees, legislators, and the Governor and tell them why public schools and higher education is of such importance and significance to all the citizens of the State of Maine. Being a member of MEA and AFUM is not compelling individuals to mouth support for views they find objectionable, but rather standing up for the citizens of Maine and demonstrating how public education benefits all.
