From April 28-May 4th, UC-AFT will be holding a statewide leadership election. This election comes at a particularly important moment, as we confront a new presidential administration that is fundamentally hostile to higher education and impending cuts to the UC’s budget from the state of California. This election also marks the beginning of the Unit 18 teaching faculty’s contract campaign, as members will be asked to ratify our bargaining pillars and vote on their bargaining team representatives.
Participation in elections is central to our union democracy. Beginning in 2016, a group of your colleagues from the Bay Area Chapter who were frustrated with our union’s existing decision-making structures, fought for a series of reforms to democratize our union and make it more inclusive and participatory (learn more about their efforts here). As a result of their efforts, there are many ways to participate in our union governance. You can help determine our union policies and practices and shape the direction of the upcoming Unit 18 contract campaign.
All dues-paying members of UC-AFT are encouraged to attend statewide candidate forums on April 7 and April 18 (on zoom) and to join similar events at your local chapter – they are a great way to better understand how our union democracy works. You can also express your solidarity by helping to get out the vote: sign up here to join a phone bank or in-person GOTV event on your campus.
Below we provided as much information as possible to address your questions about the election. If you have additional questions, email contact@ucaft.org.
What’s on the ballot?
Every two years, UC-AFT elects officers to our statewide Executive Board consisting of: President, Vice President for Unit 18 (Teaching Faculty), Vice President for Unit 17 (Librarians), Vice President for Grievances, Vice President for Organizing, Vice President for Legislation, and Secretary-Treasurer.
Learn more about these roles and responsibilities at https://ucaft.org/about/governance/
You can learn more about the 2025 UC-AFT Statewide Executive Board election slate and candidate statements here. These candidates will be participating in two candidate forums on April 7 at 12pm and April 18 at 11am on zoom. RSVP to join at linktr.ee/ucaft. The forums are open to all members. During the forums, candidates for offices will deliver statements and answer questions.
Each chapter is responsible for the administration of union business on their respective campus and is empowered to establish their own bylaws. These structures vary from campus to campus, but every chapter must elect its own Chair (or Co-Chairs) who are responsible for ensuring that Chapter decision-making processes are open and democratic.
Each chapter is also responsible for electing delegates to our UC-AFT Local 1474 Council, the highest decision-making body in our union. The Council meets four times a year to discuss our union’s policies, regulations, and rules, including our annual budget, which must be approved by a majority vote of Council delegates. Delegates are also invited to submit proposals and resolutions based on the recommendations of their chapter.
Your chapter may be voting to elect new leaders and/or Council Delegates according to your local bylaws. Some chapters may be voting on new or revised bylaws as well. Watch for information from your chapter or contact chapter leadership about nominations procedures for these roles and bylaws changes.
Table Team Representatives: Unit 18 teaching faculty are heading into the bargaining campaign right now. As part of our commitment to union democracy, UC-AFT elects rank-and-file members to represent their chapters in bargaining negotiations. Each chapter will elect two table team representatives.
If you’re considering running to represent your campus on the table team, check out this FAQ with additional information about the position.
Unit 18 Bargaining Pillars: Teaching faculty have weighed in on their priorities for the new contract campaign through two bargaining surveys and a statewide Bargaining Summit. These measures are used to home in on our bargaining demands and ensure that they reflect our members needs and hopes for a new contract. U18 teaching faculty will vote to affirm bargaining pillars.
Keep an eye out for an invitation to a Town Hall on April 25 to learn about the proposed pillars.
Any member in good standing (i.e. current members) of UC-AFT who has worked at UC during the current academic year (2024-2024) is eligible to run in this election. If you have appointments on more than one campus, you may nominate yourself on one campus of your choosing.
The nominations period for Statewide office has closed. You can read more about the 2025 UC-AFT Statewide Executive Board election slate and candidate statements here. These candidates will also be participating in 2 candidate forums on April 7 at 12pm and April 18 at 12pm on zoom. RSVP to join at linktr.ee/ucaft
Candidates interested in running for positions in their chapter should contact the nominating committee of their chapter. The available positions and nominations process are determined by each chapter, but all candidates must submit their statement of interest by April 23. Your chapter should announce the nomination period and process in an email soon and may be holding membership meetings to discuss the election as well. Additional information may also be available on your chapter’s page.
How to Vote
Participation in leadership elections is crucial to our union democracy and this election is a particularly important one! All UC-AFT members will be asked to vote for their statewide leadership as well as leadership of their local chapters and Unit 18 teaching faculty will also have an opportunity to elect their representatives to the bargaining team and to ratify the bargaining pillars that will guide our upcoming contract campaign. To ensure maximum participation, our 2025 UC-AFT elections will run from April 28-May 4th. Additional information about voting is below.
All current UC-AFT members who have been employed at UC during the current academic year (2024-2025) will be eligible to vote in this election. Only Unit 17 librarians can vote for their Unit 17 Vice President and only Unit 18 teaching faculty can vote for Unit 18 Vice President, table team members and Unit 18 bargaining pillars. Some Chapters may also have unit specific offices that only Unit 17 librarians can vote on. Each ballot is customized and will only include the offices you are permitted to vote for.
Make sure your preferred, non-UC email address is up-to-date with your local chapter to ensure you receive a ballot. If you don’t receive your ballot or aren’t sure whether your email is correct, contact your local chapter immediately.
Not a member of UC-AFT? Join today at https://connect.aft.org/app/memberforms/01474/join
UC-AFT members who hold dual campus appointments can vote for both chapters’ officers and any chapter bylaws changes. They will only be able to cast a single vote for Statewide Officers and Unit 18 bargaining pillars (if applicable).
Ballots will be distributed electronically at 8:00 am on April 28, 2025. Each UC-AFT member will receive a unique, anonymous ballot. Ballots will be emailed to the address to which you receive other UC-AFT communications. The ballots will come from “ElectionBuddy Elections” and can sometimes land in spam folders (so check there!). If you don’t receive your ballot, email contact@ucaft.org immediately.
Voting will close at 5:00 pm on May 4th. UC-AFT will be holding several phone banks to promote participation in the elections. To sign up to join a phone bank or in-person GOTV event on your campus, click here.
Make sure your preferred, non-UC email address is up-to-date with your chapter before April 26 to ensure you receive a ballot. The ballots will come from “ElectionBuddy Elections” and can sometimes land in spam folders, so be sure to check there as well. If you don’t receive your ballot or aren’t sure whether your email is correct, email contact@ucaft.org.
To sign up to join a phone bank or in-person GOTV event on your campus, click here.
