Introduction to WOUFT

WOUFT is the Western Oregon University faculty union. Founded in 1974 and strengthened over several decades, WOUFT gives faculty members true shared governance at the campus level and advocates for their professional concerns at the state and national level.

We are Local 2278 of the American Federation of Teachers, a national union of teachers and employees of educational institutions throughout the United States. We are also affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

WOUFT was formed due to a long history of poor treatment of the faculty by the administration of WOU, back when it was still Oregon College of Education (and before it changed names to "Western Oregon State College", and then to "Western Oregon University"). The hard work of the union over the years has resulted in great strides in better salaries and benefits, better working conditions, more faculty governance, and diligent defense of faculty members' rights through the grievance process.

According to our Constitution, the objectives of the organization shall be:

• To provide an effective collective bargaining representative for the faculty at Western Oregon University.
• To promote the general welfare for the faculty at Western Oregon University.
• To bring the local into relations of mutual assistance with the American Federation of Teachers, its State Federation and locals.
• To eliminate all forms of discrimination in institutions of higher education, including discrimination on the basis of race, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, social or economic status, or political belief.
• To work for passage and retention of just laws which will improve the climate for students and faculty.
• To work for advancement of the public image of higher education, including passage and retention of appropriate laws that will protect and promote the role of faculty employees and higher education workers in the delivery of quality education.