Equity, Justice, and Inclusion are Key to Building a Strong, Meaningful, and Successful Union

Building a just, equitable and inclusive community at Ohio University is one of our core goals and we are committed to that goal. Our approach is to engage, listen, and reflect critically — this will enable us to to work together and address not only specific instances of discrimination, but work more broadly to address the structural conditions that enable and perpetuate racism, prejudice, and injustice.

Labor unions have not always embraced these goals, and even have acted directly in opposition to them — and we acknowledge that that history has done lasting damage to individuals and communities. However, there have been unions such as the United Farm Workers and key leaders within the labor movement who have worked in solidarity to labor against injustice, pushing to address racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia - this push has historically come from leaders, but also from rank-and-file members as well. Our union seeks to be on the right side of history.

We have already begun this work, and have been working to build relationships with faculty of color, faculty with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ faculty, international faculty — both individually and informally, and through more formal engagement with official and independent affinity groups on campus. We’ve been doing a lot of listening, and realize that part of building relationships goes beyond talk to action.

We will continue to work against injustice and strive to create a community and organization that is a place where people work collectively for equity and justice, inclusion and belonging. As a new union, we have an opportunity to create an organization that can work to take these ideals and make them a part of reality.

We will be continuing to work on our founding documents and look forward to collaborating with all faculty voices — and will continue to reflect and revise as we build and organization committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging for all of us.