DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire has been advised that a certification petition was filed Dec. 5, 2013, with the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) seeking certification of a bargaining unit of contract lecturers at its Durham and Manchester campuses.

There are approximately 200 lecturers at UNH, primarily in the College of Liberal Arts. The union seeking to represent the lecturers is the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). 

"We believe that UNH has made many gains that benefit lecturers through direct communication, and that the involvement of a union or collective bargaining is not necessary," said Lisa MacFarlane, university provost. "We encourage lecturers to understand the pros and cons of union representation and to become educated about the union organizing and collective bargaining process. This will allow each lecturer to make an informed vote, should an election be held."

Filing of the petition is the initial step in the PELRB process to seek union representation. If the PELRB determines the petition is sufficiently supported, a hearing will be held for the PELRB and the parties to coordinate a secret ballot election. If there is an election, it will be held at a date, time, and place to be determined by the PELRB and notices will be posted with this information. Whether the AAUP becomes the representative for UNH's lecturers will be decided by a majority of the votes cast in a secret ballot election.

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