About
OUR HISTORY
United Campus Workers got its start at the University of Tennessee over 25 years ago. In 2003 they affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, officially becoming UCW-CWA Local 3865. Members proved that their unique organizing model, which works around the lack of collective bargaining rights for public sector workers in many states, could secure big victories. Campuses in other states wanted to organize with UCW and one by one chartered their own CWA locals in Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
UCW-Alabama was founded in 2019 at the University of Alabama (local 3965). Campus chapters were established at Auburn University in 2020 and Jacksonville State University in 2023. Chapters have organized to increase minimum wages for hourly campus workers, to improve worker safety, and secure better health insurance benefits.
In 2023, the eight states listed above decided to centralize their resources and power and form "one big local." Our eight states all reside within CWA District 3, which is how we got our new local charter: UCW-CWA Local 3821. The number is a pneumonic device: The eight states from District 3 came together as one.
Because our universities are governed by state boards and many campuses engage in legislative and political action work, each state in Southeast still maintains its own identity. Elected leaders serve on statewide steering committees and a delegate from each steering committee serves on the UCW Southeast Executive Board, which helps direct our regional organizing efforts.
WHAT WE DO
UCW Alabama members are building our union from the ground up by developing campaigns to fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Because Alabama has weak labor laws, campus workers must engage in deep organizing to win real change. Our union is building a powerful, member-led movement with the resources needed to run effective campaigns and win change on campuses statewide.
We build power by talking with our coworkers, identifying workplace issues, and planning and implementing campaigns to address those issues. Our campaigns have won pay increases and enhanced lab safety protocols on multiple campuses.
GET INVOLVED
United Campus Workers is completely member-run! Any higher education employee can join.The success of our union depends on members organizing their workplaces and growing powerful to enough to enact a shared vision for a just and equitable university.
There are number of committees members can sit on that are actively seeking volunteers:
- LPAT (Legislative and Political Action Team) Committee:for more info contact committee chair Lance Ingwersen ([email protected])
In 2026, our LPAT organized resistance across public institutions by launching a letter writing and advocacy campaign to the AL House and Senate. Members and supporters sent hundreds of letters against HB580, a bill which diminishes the role of faculty senates, mandates post-tenure review, and empowers boards of trustees power to make curricular decisions. The committee also authored and published an op-ed against the bill.
