Since its founding in 2014, our union has fought hard to get better working conditions for specialized faculty at UIUC. By joining, you help us to keep the hard-earned benefits of our first two contracts with the administration and give us a platform from which we can continue to improve working conditions and job security, as we bargain our third contract. Check out the graphic below to see some of the things the NTFC has won for its members since 2014. As of August 16th, 2019, the terms of our 2nd Contract with the University Administration are now in effect.
Dues
The union’s primary source of income comes from our members themselves. Each car-signed member pays dues, a monthly fee automatically deducted from one’s paycheck by university HR. Union dues are 1.5% of yearly salary up to the first $100,000 made paid out over a 12-month period.
Until 2018, all faculty represented by our union–members or not–paid dues. This was what was called a “fair-share” dues system, wherein public sector unionized employees automatically contributed dues to the union representing them, even if they were not members. However, following the supreme court ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME, fair-share dues were halted. Now, only card-signed members pay union dues.
This has led to some confusion among the faculty we represent. You are only a member of the union if you have signed a union membership card and are currently paying dues. If you were paying dues before the Janus decision, you may not necessarily still be a union member. If you’re unsure if you are still paying dues and are a member of the union, contact us.
Benefits of Membership
By becoming a dues-paying member of the NTFC, you help us to stay organized and representative of the interests of our bargaining unit. Your membership helps us to defend the contract benefits we have already won, and it helps us to continue to gain more for our members in the future.
Your dues and your actions with the union also support all your colleagues and peers at UIUC, as well as other workers locally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally. We are raising the bar collectively for what it means to be respected and fairly compensated for our labor, something that helps workers everywhere!
By joining, you also gain access to a host of benefits offered by our affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers. These benefits include pet insurance, healthcare, legal aid, scholarships, free higher education programs, and more! You can read more about AFT benefits here.
We’ve done a lot in these first several years, but, as a volunteer organization, we need as much help as possible to serve our members. Our union works best when our members raise their voices and get involved, and there are lots of ways to do this! Check out our calendar of events, our committees, and our stewards council for more information.
How to Join
Fill out the digital membership card below if you’d like to become a member of NTFC. By joining, you agree to pay union dues at a rate of 1.5% of your yearly salary up to the first $100,000 made over a 12-month period. Click here for more information about union dues. If you prefer to sign a physical card, send us an email and we’ll be happy to meet you on campus.
Click Here to Join
