WAU is jointly affiliated with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).  By joining WAU, you become part of a powerful national movement to protect academic freedom and defend higher education. 

Join

If you prefer, you can download a form and return it to the union via email or print and send to our office.

Union dues are 0.9% of your gross salary. Your dues support WAU’s core activities, including: 

  • Negotiating improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions.

  • Protecting members from arbitrary and discriminatory actions in violation of the contract and university policy. 

  • Protecting and strengthening job security — whether it is tenure for tenure-stream faculty, Employment Security Status (ESS) for academic staff, or appointment lengths and renewals for non-tenure track faculty.

  • Engaging in legislative and political action to ensure WSU is adequately funded. 

  • Seeking to enhance and preserve the quality of the university.

  • Meghan McGowan headshot

    “I joined our union because I want a say in my workplace and we can't win better pay, fairer contracts, and excellent benefits without collective power.”

    Meghan McGowan, STEM Librarian, WSU Library System

  • Amber Harrison headshot

    “Our union provides camaraderie and support for everyone. It is a wonderful way for faculty and staff to come together across campus, and a safe space for voicing concerns. I joined our union late last year and very quickly became a council rep for my academic unit because it was quickly apparent that our union listens to and values all of our voices. AAUP-AFT Local 6075 provides a welcoming environment for all Wayne State faculty and academic staff!”

    Amber Harrison, Academic Services Officer I and DEI Coordinator, School of Information Sciences

  • Jack Blaszkiewicz headshot

    “September 2020 felt like the low point of my career. I had just begun my second year on the tenure track, having moved across the country to join the Wayne State faculty. Having only spent a semester on campus before COVID-19 lockdown, I felt like the best parts of the professoriate—the intellectual camaraderie, the buzz of a busy campus, the events and celebrations—had been suspended indefinitely. It was during this isolated period that I became involved in the union. An academic union, I soon learned, does far more than file grievances and negotiate raises. It builds community. While the classroom and the conference room are the obvious places where an academic feels at home, the union meeting became an intellectually riveting event for me, a place where history, economy, politics, and lived experience came together in vibrant conversation. For any faculty “on the fence” about joining AAUP-AFT, my advice is: join. You will meet your people.”

    Jack Blaszkiewicz, Assistant Professor, Music (CFPCA)

  • Deborah Gibson headshot

    “I joined the union in June 2017. This was my first time being a union member. I must admit, up to that point, I always thought of unions as insurance policies. If there was a problem at work, I would have union protection. However, by being active in my local, I have found that the union is much more than an employee advocate in times of injustice. We, the union, are a network. We, the union, are a stronghold, supporting colleagues to gain benefits such as childcare assistance. We, the union, are innovative, ever seeking to change and improve. That is why I joined, how about you?”

    Deborah Gibson, Graduate Service and Certification Officer, College of Education

  • Jeff Horner headshot

    “Before I became a council rep (when my union participation was minimal), I was encouraged to bring my personal workload concerns to union leadership who listened carefully, and who subsequently took several of these concerns to the bargaining table, where my issues were (partially) remedied in a collective bargaining agreement. Membership has its benefits (h/t American Express), even with limited involvement.”

    Jeff Horner, Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Urban Studies and Urban Planning (CLAS)

  • Denise Thomas headshot

    “I believe in the union’s ability to represent me and my colleagues as a vital part of the WSU community. Through the Union, I have met faculty and staff that have enriched my WSU experiences. Overall my time in the Union has been rewarding, fulfilling and empowering.”

    Denise Thomas, University Counselor III, University Advising Office/Gadson Office of Military and Veterans Academic Excellence