State of the State: A Message from the Steering Committee

Happy New Year Sisters, Brothers, and Siblings,

I hope that you are all rested and feeling recharged for the Spring 2026 Semester.

We are at a pivotal moment for public employees in higher education across Alabama—faculty, staff, advisors, librarians, researchers, custodians, IT professionals, and student workers who make learning possible every day. Past years has tested our resolve, sharpened our purpose, and reminded us why solidarity is not just a word—but a practice we live every day. The state of our union is resilient, determined, and forward-looking.

Our Members and Our Mission

On our campuses—community colleges, regional universities, and flagship institutions—our members educate students, support research, and keep operations running. In a right-to-work state with limited collective bargaining protections for public employees, you have shown courage by standing up for fair pay, safe workplaces, manageable workloads, academic freedom, and respect for professional expertise. Because of your efforts, we have defended jobs, improved safety and accessibility standards, and expanded professional development and training pathways.

Organizing on Campus

Organizing remains the lifeblood of our union. This year, we strengthened our organizing committees, spread the word about Living Wages on all campuses through petitions and rallies, trained members on having organizing conversations, built cross-campus coalitions, and much more!  We supported workers seeking a collective voice in advising, facilities, libraries, and other roles essential to student success but too often undervalued. Despite anti-union pressure and legal barriers, our answer has been consistent: education, unity, and persistence.

Funding, Pay, and the Future of Higher Education

Alabama’s higher education institutions are engines of opportunity, yet chronic underfunding and rising costs place strain on both workers and students. We continue to advocate for competitive salaries that keep talent in-state, cost-of-living adjustments, fair classification and promotion systems, and affordable benefits. Public investment must prioritize classrooms, labs, and student services—not administrative bloat or short-term fixes.

Policy, Politics, and Public Service

The intersection of labor and politics is especially clear in public higher education. Decisions made by the Legislature, governing boards, and campus administrations shape wages, benefits, tenure and due process, and the right to speak up without retaliation. Our union is nonpartisan in its membership, but never neutral about public education or workers’ rights. We will continue to engage members in civic participation, demand transparency and accountability, and oppose policies that weaken public services or silence campus workers. One of the goals for 2026 is to have UCW Alabama become more involved with the Legislative & Political climate in our state.  

The Road Ahead

The challenges before us—budget uncertainty, political interference, workforce shortages, and anti-union laws—are real. But so are our strengths: our shared purpose, our professionalism, and our solidarity across campuses. In the year ahead, we will:

• Expand organizing among higher education public employees (we currently are working with UNA to go public this semester. Also, new organizing opportunities at UAH and UAB)
• Strengthen training and campus-based leadership (continuing to Strengthen our Statewide Steering Committee and campus Organizing Committees)
• Advocate for increased state funding tied to fair pay and staffing
• Build alliances with students, families, and community partners
• Mobilize informed, engaged members in every decision that effects their campus.
• Be strategic about our upcoming demands
• Growth (Lets reach 400 members this year) we are currently at 327 Active members

In December our elected UCW-State Representative Misha Hadar, left the position, and stepped down. The State Steering committee has appointed Lance Ingwersen as interim State Representative, (thank you Lance your willingness to step up) to permanently fill the position for the rest of the term, which ends in November 2027.

Closing

The state of our union is strong because you make it so. In Alabama, where defending public education requires persistence and principle, we stand together. We will keep organizing, keep advocating, and keep winning—for our campuses, our students, and the future of higher education in our state.

In solidarity,

The officers of the United Campus Workers of Alabama Steering Committee are:

Abi Diaz, Chair

Alex Pieschel, Treasurer

Brooks Howe, Secretary

Lance Ingwersen, UCWSE Executive Board Representative (interim)

Frederick Smith, Staff Organizer