Jobs We Do

Higher Education

Yolanda Knodle

Yolanda Knodle, Parent Involvement Assistant; Council 18, New Mexico

Institutions of higher education achieve their missions because of the talented work of AFSCME members. We keep buildings and grounds clean and safe; prepare and serve good food to hungry students; work in classrooms; provide financial, technical and administrative services; and make our colleges, universities and technical schools great places to live and learn.

Higher Education Employees Online Network

Join your brothers and sisters in the AFSCME Higher Education Employees Network to discuss the concerns you share about your work, learn about what’s going on around the country and exchange information and ideas.

What's Hot

  • Economic Stimulus Funds for Higher Education
    Last month President Obama signed an economic stimulus plan that provides $100 billion for education-related funding. Of that, $15 billion is designated for higher education in the form of financial assistance that will aid college students facing growing tuition costs. (California Democratic Party, 3/10/09)
  • Return of Grad Union Movement
    Unions worked hard for President Obama in November — and those in academic unions have had high hopes that his actions would revive the movement to organize graduate teaching assistants at private universities. In his first move related to the National Labor Relations Board, Obama has cheered those unions by designating as chair Wilma B. Liebman, who is on record as backing collective bargaining rights for private universities’ graduate teaching assistants. Liebman was originally appointed to the NLRB by President Clinton, and she was one of two members who wrote a strong dissent to the 2004 decision that effectively shut down union organizing at private institutions.
  • UC, Service Workers Reach 'Historic' Agreement
    After a summer strike and 18 months of bargaining, UC reached a five-year contract deal Wednesday with 8,500 workers statewide, including 550 employees at UC Santa Cruz. Union leaders called the $64 million package of wage hikes "historic" because it establishes a first-ever minimum pay rate for UC employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 3299. Salaries for the university's lowest paid workers -- some of whom earn $10.28 per hour -- will gradually be increased to a $14 per-hour minimum. Workers also will get a 16 percent raise over the life of the contract. (Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 29, 2009)
  • Next Wave Toolkit
    Learn how to start a new Next Wave chapter, host an event, get involved in the election or find more information.
  • Health Care for America: Which Side Are You On?
    Learn about AFSCME’s plan to guarantee quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
  • Failing California’s Communities
    A new report by the Center for Labor and Community Research and the Partnership for Working Families shows how the University of California’s low wages affect surrounding cities and neighborhoods.

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