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University of Louisville

As staff, faculty, facilities workers, graduate student workers, and undergraduate student workers at the University of Louisville, our experiences matter. Over the past few years, those experiences have included inadequate compensation across job classes that does not reflect the true financial security of this institution; a lack of transparency when it comes to major decisions affecting workers (e.g., COVID work policies, College of Arts & Sciences restructuring); and disruptive leadership changes at multiple levels combined with a central administration that is dismissive of workers’ concerns. Rather than provide for its workers, the University undermines their ability to complete their jobs; instead of creating promise for the future, the University promotes dissatisfaction and uncertainty.

We believe in the value of the services we provide–research, teaching, cleaning, administration, and more–and the benefits of higher education, but not at the expense of unjust working conditions. That is why we, as members of the UofL chapter of United Campus Workers (UCW) of Kentucky, call on the University to begin to adhere to the Cardinal Values promised by our "Community of Care." To that end, we put forward a platform with three demands: Transparency, Compensation, and A Seat at the Table.

More details about our platform TBA.

Join your union and start organizing today for a University that values and provides for its students and workers 

Union members

Join United Campus Workers of Kentucky!


 

Current campaigns

HB 4 Impacts Stories

Recent movements and legislation are undermining academic freedoms and criminalizing the existence of marginalized communities. In order for you and your campus community members, coworkers, & coalition allies to fight these attacks, we need to hear your voice! 

Stories are a way of showing our coworkers and campus community that what they are experiencing is not unique. Stories lay out the stakes of why we fight. Stories inspire others by showing the power we wield when we stand together. Our stories make impacts visible and build collective power to resist continued anti-DEI efforts.

Share your story here!

Fee Relief for UofL Graduate Workers

UCW graduate workers are campaigning to eliminate the athletic fee because it places an additional financial burden on graduate workers who are already managing rising living costs in Louisville while fulfilling their academic and institutional responsibilities.

Sign here!

UCW-CWA Survey on Priority Issues

We, the United Campus Workers-CWA staff Organizing Committee, want to hear from our fellow workers about their top priorities for change in our workplaces.

Please take 5 minutes to complete this brief survey. All personal information will be kept confidential and only shared with your input and consent.

Take our survey!

Past victories and campaigns

Fair compensation and representation
Fair compensation and representation
Worker safety during the pandemic
Worker safety during the pandemic
Research
Research

University of Louisville Has the Money 

United Campus Workers of Kentucky’s analysis of U of L’s finances between FY17 and FY21 reflect that the institution is in an overall strong financial position. Discussions of restructuring the College of Arts & Sciences have included assumptions from upper-level administration that budgetary problems are driving the need for restructuring. While there may need to be change in Arts & Sciences, our analysis reflects that there is not a budgetary crisis and the financial position of the University in no way reflects a need for staffing, instructional, or departmental cuts within the College. Read our full report here.

Resources
Resources
WORKERS ARE ORGANIZING
WORKERS ARE ORGANIZING
UCW Dues FAQ
UCW Dues FAQ
UCW-CWA Fact Sheet
UCW-CWA Fact Sheet
UCW-UofL Info Brochure
UCW-UofL Info Brochure