Just as it is important for us to #knowyourcontract, it is also important for us to know our constitution! And our constitution tells us that NTFC elections are just around the corner.
In April, we will elect a new Executive Council and Stewards Council, the two bodies that govern our union. More details about each election are below. To run in either election, please email ntfc6546@gmail.com indicating which position you’d like to run for.
Elections will run from April 19-23th, and the nominations for all positions will close on April 12th. You may self-nominate for any position!
Executive Council Elections
The members of the Executive Council are the officers of our union. They handle our day-to-day management, including working with our union affiliates like IFT or AAUP, managing our staff person, overseeing our finances, maintaining union records, communicating important information with our members, and more! We have a President, Vice President, Stewards Council Chair, Communications Chair, Bargaining Research Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Grievance Chair. The EC meets once per month, some regular duties outside of these meetings are required. If you’re interested in a particular position, feel free to contact our officers and ask about their experiences!
Stewards Council Elections
Becoming a steward is one of the easiest ways to get more involved in your union and put an interest in activism into practice. As the first point of contact between membership at large and union leadership, stewards play a vital role in connecting with members across campus and ensuring our union represents the interests of all non-tenure faculty at UIUC.
Heather McLeer, Chief Steward
As we focus on our teaching, research, and service, it can be easy to get immersed in the life of our own departments. As a member of the Stewards Council, I’ve had the opportunity to not only reach out to non-tenure faculty across campus and gain a better understanding of working conditions outside of my own department, but also to build community with fellow stewards from a wide range of departments. This sense of non-tenure faculty as a campus-wide community is perhaps the most valuable thing I’ve gained from my time on the Stewards Council.
Our Stewards Council is the organizing body of our union. Meeting monthly like our Executive Council, they’re charged primarily with recruiting new members and assisting bargaining unit members in resolving their workplace issues. Each Steward has a turf, or a few departments on campus that they are the first point of contact for. Apart from organizing members, our Stewards also are the main legislative body of our union. They propose changes to the constitution, by-laws, and other policy changes at our general membership meetings. The Stewards Council is a great place to start for those who are interested in getting more involved with NTFC!
Contact our Chief Steward, Heather McLeer, if you’d like more information about Stewardship.
