UTSF gives tenure-system faculty and librarians a democratic structure for advocating together on wages, benefits, working conditions, and the future of MSU.
What does having a union mean?
Our union gives us a voice at MSU and lets us advocate for our shared interests, including wages, benefits, and working conditions. We elect our own officers and board, participate in union decisions, and bargain collectively with the administration over our first contract.
The more broadly faculty participate, the stronger our voice becomes. Together, we are the union.
What is collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining is the process through which faculty and administration meet as equals to negotiate wages, benefits, working conditions, and other shared priorities. It can turn faculty priorities into a legally binding and enforceable agreement.
Most MSU employees already bargain collectively. By organizing, tenure-system faculty and librarians join that campus majority.
How do I enroll or get involved?
Eligible tenure-system faculty and librarians can enroll through the Join UTSF link on this site. Membership lets you vote, run for office, help establish bargaining priorities, and participate fully in the union’s democratic work.
A strong union requires broad participation. Members can also volunteer for association-representative vacancies, standing committees, member outreach, communications, and other union work by contacting union@utsfmsu.org.
How is UTSF governed?
Faculty from across campus used a rigorous, inclusive process to draft a constitution and bylaws. Members ratified those documents and now elect the Executive Council and association representatives who carry out the union’s work.
Only UTSF members may run for union office or vote for candidates. Members also serve on committees, approve the local budget, help choose bargaining priorities, and vote on a tentative collective bargaining agreement.
What happened after recognition?
On September 8, 2025, MSU formally recognized UTSF as the exclusive representative of tenure-system faculty and librarians after an overwhelming majority demonstrated support. Recognition put faculty on legal footing to bargain collectively with the administration.
In accordance with the constitution and bylaws, members nominated and elected leaders, formed committees, selected a negotiating team, identified shared priorities, and began preparing for and conducting negotiations.
What was the administration’s position?
MSU’s Board of Trustees adopted a resolution of neutrality toward employee union organizing in 2021. Under that policy, the administration agreed to recognize UTSF after the union demonstrated overwhelming faculty support.
Collective bargaining is already the norm for most employees at MSU. UTSF now joins the other bargaining units that negotiate contracts with the university.
How does the union work with Faculty Senate?
Faculty Senate continues to play an essential role in shared governance. Unionized fixed-term faculty already participate actively in Senate, showing that union representation and academic governance can reinforce one another.
The Senate is advisory, so the university can disregard its recommendations. UTSF adds the legal power to bargain a binding contract that MSU must follow. A strong faculty union can therefore give practical support to the Senate and strengthen faculty influence in governance.
Modern faculty-governance systems spread in the 1950s while faculty across the country were joining unions. Administrators formalized faculty input into academic affairs and expanded tenure while retaining control over financial decisions. UTSF gives tenure-system faculty a voice in the full range of decisions that affect their work.