CAUSE-UAW Organizing Committee and UAW Leadership,

We are writing as a group of staff members from Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), under the University of Alaska (UA), who are now part of the newly certified CAUSE-UAW bargaining unit. Some of us voted in favor of unionization and some voted against it. Regardless of how we voted, we all want the union to begin on a solid, fair, and representative foundation.

We are concerned about the process used in a Zoom meeting held on April 21, 2026 in which the structure of the bargaining committee was approved and members of the election committee were voted on. Less than 300 of the approximately 2,200 eligible staff participated. During the meeting, it was stated that an invitation had been emailed to everyone on the list provided by UA. However, many KPC bargaining unit staff members and many from multiple UA campuses stated they had never received notice of the meeting or the proposals being voted on. Additionally, the sender of the meeting invitation was specifically notified in advance that KPC would have low attendance due to Director interviews being scheduled at the same time. Despite these facts, the votes were still held.

In addition, the bargaining committee structure that was presented for a vote had been developed in a small, closed meeting held on a Sunday April 12, 2026 with only about 20 people in attendance. This meant that the key decisions shaping our bargaining team were largely pre-determined by a very small group before most members of the unit had any opportunity to review or provide input.

Since no local bylaws have been adopted and no local officers have been elected, we assume that the UAW International Constitution governs these early proceedings. That Constitution emphasizes the importance of reasonable notice to all members, equal opportunity to participate, and democratic decision-making — especially for foundational decisions such as the structure of the bargaining committee.

We believe the current process fell short of these standards and risks undermining confidence in the union from the very beginning. To address this and ensure broader representation moving forward, we respectfully request:

1 - That a new vote on the bargaining committee structure be scheduled, with comprehensive and timely notice provided to all members of the bargaining unit through multiple channels so that everyone has a genuine opportunity to participate.

2 - That a reasonable quorum or minimum participation threshold be established for these important early votes until local bylaws are developed and approved.

3 - That future meetings and decision-making processes, including the drafting of local bylaws, prioritize broad outreach, transparency, and inclusive input from the entire bargaining unit.

We appreciate your prompt attention to these concerns. A fair and inclusive start will benefit every staff member represented by CAUSE-UAW. We would value a written response outlining how these issues will be addressed and are available to discuss this further if needed.

Thank you,

Kenai Peninsula College Staff