Hi, everyone. I’m Scott Deaner, an Academic Advisor in the LSA Newnan Academic Advising Center and a University Staff United member. I joined University Staff United because I love my job, my co-workers, and University of Michigan students. Over the last year and a half, I’ve seen many talented colleagues, who cared deeply for our students’ success, leave their jobs due to burnout, unsustainable workloads, and low pay. It is time for a change and USU is a vehicle for us to attain the fair treatment and compensation we deserve.
A major issue I’ve observed for staff is increasingly heavy workloads, notably through job creep. When advisors leave my unit (often for better working conditions and higher pay), students are reassigned to other staff members. Student caseloads increase, yet we receive no additional compensation for the additional workload. Along with the increasing caseload, some of our flexible scheduling options were eliminated with no consultation with staff, or even a warning that it was coming.
All University of Michigan staff deserve to have fair working conditions and equitable workloads. We deserve to be fairly compensated for our expertise and our time. We deserve to have our voice heard and have a seat at the table. The only way we get that is through a union. A collectively bargained contract can result in increased wages, fair workloads, and ensure that we retain the benefits we value most about our jobs. This can help ensure that the university retains the most talented and best qualified individuals. This in turn helps ensure our students are receiving the best front line support they need to help them succeed. The University of Michigan can’t be “the leaders and best” without University Staff United and the work of our members. Now is the time to join with me and get involved as we build our union on the road to recognition for the SIS unit!
In Solidarity,
Scott