The History of Unionizing Attempts at NMSU

Trying to get a union organized at an institution the size and diversity of NMSU is not an easy task. There have been previous organizing attempts, including one by the AAUP in 2013. You can look at materials from that organizing attempt at the old website, here. But in the past two years, several things have changed:

• The Regents have squandered the finite resources of the university by hiring both a President and a Chancellor at a combined salary of $950,000. This role was previously occupied by a single individual with a salary of approximately $350,000. This is out of line with other universities of our size and budgetary situation.

• In addition to the President and Chancellor, NMSU now has a Provost, a vice-Provost, and a vice-Chancellor, representing a profusion of highly-paid new top-level positions whose existence has not been justified.

• The President and Chancellor receive hefty bonuses in addition to their salaries, just for doing their jobs. Was it really necessary to provide bonuses to incentivize doing the bare minimum? If so, why don't faculty and staff get bonuses?

• Cuts to units, departments, and individuals are being threatened, based on metrics that have not been revealed to the NMSU community.

• The Faculty Senate has taken no position on any of this.

It's time to do something about it!