Pasco-Hernando State College faculty decide to unionize in close vote

If just one or two voters had gone the other way, Pasco-Hernando State College faculty members wouldn't have a union.

But after three weeks of balloting by mail, the results are in: 64 for, 62 against, making PHSC faculty the newest chapter of the United Faculty of Florida.

The results were certified Wednesday by the Florida Public Employees Relations Committee.

Caitlin Gille, associate professor of natural science, said in a UFF news release that she is thrilled to have a stronger voice in decision-making at PHSC.

"We can now participate more effectively in shaping the policies that affect our work of facilitating student success," she said. "I anticipate many positive changes now that our faculty can collectively bargain."

PHSC faculty make up the UFF's 29th chapter. The union is the higher education arm of the Florida Education Association, representing more than 14,000 full-time faculty members across Florida's 12 public universities and nearly a dozen state colleges, as well as thousands of graduate assistants.

"We are excited to add their energy, knowledge and professionalism to our cause of improving higher education across Florida," said UFF President Karen Morian in a news release.