Nova Southeastern University workers unionization controversy information

The Nova Southeastern University workers unionization controversy involved more than 350 groundskeepers, janitors, bus drivers, and maintenance workers employed by UNICCO, a subcontractor at Nova Southeastern University, who voted on October 4, 2006, to form a union with the SEIU. Most of these workers are minorities; according to the union, 95 percent of the workers are African-American, Latino or Haitian.^[1] Some of these workers currently earn $7 an hour and none of them receive health benefits. "The workers said the university's decision to end the contract is a direct response to their recent efforts to unionize. But David Dawson, a spokesman for the university, said Nova is rebidding the contract because it was due to expire." Dawson stated that NSU could decide to continue with UNICCO, hire another company or rehire the workers as Nova employees.^[2] NSU employees are eligible for health benefits as well as tuition reimbursement at the university.^[3]

UNICCO has been a subcontractor for NSU for about 12 years. UNICCO posted a letter informing workers that they could lose their jobs near the end of December if UNICCO loses its contract at the university.

Workers at neighboring institutions, the University of Miami and Florida International University, recently acquired significant wage increases, health insurance, and other benefits by unionizing.