AY2026 UA Staff Unionization Efforts

Understanding the ALRA Questionnaire Process

November 7, 2025

The Latest: Many UA employees recently received questionnaires from the Alaska Labor Relations Agency (ALRA) as part of the ongoing process to determine which positions may be included in the proposed staff bargaining unit. We recognize this step has raised questions and caused some frustration. 

Stay up-to-date on staff unionization efforts at alaska.edu/cause.

To be clear: UA is distributing these questionnaires out of necessity; it is an ALRA requirement, not a choice. While the University continues to work with CAUSE to reduce the number of contested positions, until agreement is reached, the University must provide these questionnaires to the ALRA.

Why It Matters: Under Alaska labor law, the ALRA determines who is eligible to be represented by a union. During this review, CAUSE contested every employee UA initially identified as ineligible, including positions that are clearly inappropriate by law for inclusion in the proposed bargaining unit due to their supervisory or confidential nature, including positions such as deans, directors, Labor Relations staff, and members of the General Counsel's Office.

  • During informal discussions, UA requested that CAUSE narrow the scope of those disputes. CAUSE declined. As a result, the ALRA directed the university to send questionnaires to every position in question, regardless of how clearly excluded some may be. We are now doing that follow-up work.

Acknowledging the Impact: UA understands this process has been time-consuming and, for many, disruptive. 

  • Completing the questionnaires has taken time away from core duties, including among employees who otherwise have little connection to the issue at hand.
  • We share the frustrations. The process is designed to enable both the employer and the proposed union representatives to reach consensus on which positions are part of the bargaining unit. 
  • Since we haven’t been able to reach that consensus, the ALRA will determine who’s in and who’s out of the union, and the questionnaires are designed to gather the factual information for the ALRA to do just that. 

Looking Ahead: Once questionnaires are returned, the ALRA will continue its review to determine which positions are eligible for the proposed bargaining unit. Those decisions will shape who may participate in a future union election. 

  • Although the process can be complex and time-consuming, UA remains committed to completing it thoroughly and transparently, in full compliance with state law. 
  • This experience highlights the additional layers of bureaucracy and delay that can accompany union procedures, even before formal negotiations begin.

The Bottom Line: UA is committed to ensuring this process remains fair, thorough, and informed. 

  • We appreciate the professionalism and patience of employees across the university who are navigating this process with care.

If you have questions about the questionnaires, your position’s eligibility, or the staff unionization effort in general, visit alaska.edu/cause, or contact UA Labor Relations at ua-ler@alaska.edu.