Update on Staff Unionization Efforts: Understanding Flexibility Under UA鈥檚 Current Staff System

October 17, 2025

The Latest: UA continues to provide information to help staff understand how union representation could affect their work experience, compensation, and professional development. 

  • One key element of the current system is flexibility, giving the University the ability to respond quickly and thoughtfully to staff needs.
  • Don鈥檛 forget - employees who received an ALRA questionnaire about your job duties need to complete it. for answers to key questions.

Why it Matters: Staff are a vital part of the UA System and play an essential role in the University鈥檚 mission of advancing and disseminating knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its peoples. Our current model enables UA to adapt to the unique circumstances of employees and departments, promoting individual growth and the university's overall success.

What it Looks Like: UA鈥檚 current system allows the university to make timely decisions about pay, recognition, and professional opportunities. This responsiveness supports fairness while maintaining the ability to address individual and departmental needs effectively.

  • Workplace flexibility: You can work directly with your supervisor to make decisions about professional development, recognition, and compensation increases. 
  • Competitive compensation: UA鈥檚 pay and benefits are competitive with peer institutions and state agencies. The University can also implement merit increases, equity adjustments, and bonuses more quickly than a multi-year contract would allow.

This flexibility ensures that UA can recognize strong performance, respond to evolving circumstances, and support a dynamic workforce.

  • By the Numbers: Over the last 10 years, nonrepresented staff pay has kept pace with their represented counterparts, with compensation across all employee groups up roughly 15%. When merit and other adjustments are included, nonrepresented staff pay has exceeded that of represented groups over that same time period.

The Bottom Line: UA is committed to ensuring this process is fair, thorough, and informed. If you have questions about whether your position might be eligible or about the staff unionization effort in general, contact UA Labor Relations at ua-ler@alaska.edu.