News
Voting results show Ohio University faculty members have officially unionized
By: WOUB News Team
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Faculty members at Ohio University have voted to unionize.
Representatives from the United Academics of Ohio University (UAOU) announced Monday that unionization was approved with a 453 to 189 vote, according to a press release. The votes were counted at the State Employment Relations Board office in Columbus on Monday morning.
UAOU members join the more than 1.8 million members of the AFT across the country and the faculty at 12 unionized campuses across Ohio who are members of the AFT and the American Association of University Professors.
“I am looking forward to a faculty union that works with the administration to do what is best for students, faculty and higher education in Ohio and particularly Southeast Ohio,” Rachel Terman, an associate professor in sociology wrote in the release. “The work to get to this point hasn’t been easy, but the persistence and patience of OU faculty are a testament to our professional dedication.”
UAOU’s catalyst to a vote began when members submitted signatures to file a petition with the state in March 2024. At least 30% of the faculty had to sign off on the petition to make it valid, according to state law. UAOU said its collections surpassed that threshold.
At a rally on Ohio University’s campus before the petition was submitted, members said the effort was to have a more prominent seat at the table than the Faculty Senate provides. While the Faculty Senate at Ohio University can recommend salary increases, its recommendations are non-binding and do not have to be acted upon by the university.
“What a union is going to give us is the power of negotiation,” explained Joe McLaughlin, associate professor of English on the day of that rally. “A union will move us forward to levels of compensation that faculty enjoy on almost all other public campuses in our state, one that compensates the many for their contributions and not just those who work in the executive administration.”
Members cited administration transparency, salary and benefits as driving factors behind their issues with the university.
The unionization vote was delayed after a dispute between Ohio University administrators and faculty over who could join the proposed union.
WOUB has reached out to Ohio University for comment and this story will be updated if there is a response.
(Editor’s Note 3/24/25 7:27 p.m.: The headline has been updated to more accurately reflect the story.)