Faculty at NMSU is considering unionizing

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University faculty members are considering whether to form a union after President John Floros said faculty cuts were likely as a result of budget cuts, a newspaper reported.

The interest came days after Floros said the university would “keep the best people, and the rest of the people that don’t get on the bus, they need to find another place.” The comment concerned some faculty members, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.

“It just shows some of the people in administration are absolutely clueless to how hard we’re working and how dedicated we are,” said Christa Slaton, a professor at the university and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “I can tell you, it just plummeted morale.”

Slaton said Floros’ comments helped stir union sentiments. “He already did the damage by saying what he said,” she said. “The idea that ‘the best people need to get on the bus’ … was just beyond insensitive.”

University regents approved a 10.5 percent budget reduction in July amid budget problems caused by the novel coronavirus.

Every department at the university must submit plans for budget cuts to Floros by September.

The administration will announce its final decisions in October after reviewing the plans.

Floros said he thinks the university will be able to cut costs without furloughs or salary reductions.

Gary Roemer, a professor at the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology at NMSU, said there was a lack of enthusiasm the last time faculty tried to unionize in 2013.

“I’m not sure why that apathy existed,” Roemer said. “Basically, they just wanted to put their heads down and do their work.”

Professor Jamie Bronstein in the history department said that while faculty members are in the early stages of forming a union, it is sure to be more successful this time around because the University of New Mexico unionized last year.

The newspaper said faculty are consulting with the people who helped employees unionize at UNM and Las Cruces Public Schools.