After two-and-a-half years working as an instructor for Michigan State University Extension, Stathis Pauls earned a performance review noting he “exceeds expectations.” Yet, his annual raise was just 1%.
“We (most extension employees) are making less than $50,000. It’s just not enough to really make ends meet nowadays,” said Pauls, noting pay compression has led to longer-term Extension employees earning salaries comparable to newer staff.
Citing a lack of transparency and other issues, Pauls and other employees are leading efforts to unionize hundreds of MSU Extension employees, which they say would be one of the first independent bargaining Extension units in the country. The more than 100-year-old organization works throughout the state to provide community members agriculture, environment and health resources.
In Detroit, MSU Extension supports initiatives like summer youth employment programs, tree planting and outdoor experiences. The organization serves 30,000 Wayne County adults and youth each year and spent $64.5 million on initiatives in the county in 2023.
Around 60 MSU Extension employees in Wayne County are eligible for the union.
Organizers said they are seeking to unionize through the Michigan Employment Relations Commission following a complicated failed attempt with university arbitrators through the university’s own voluntary process.
Ballots in the state-run election were sent by mail Jan. 31 and will be counted Feb. 24.
Jeremy Jubenville, an Extension educator in West Michigan, is one of about 20 people leading the charge to unionize the more than 400 eligible employees across the state.
The main goals of unionizing, Jubenville said, are securing regular cost of living adjustments, more objective criteria and evaluations, a legitimate grievance process and protecting retirement benefits.
“More broadly, a compensation structure that honors the knowledge and experience of the years of service of our members,” he said.
“There are some workplace challenges that we have been trying to address as an organization, probably for decades and after not seeing these needs getting met, we think a union is the best way to facilitate the changes,” said Jubenville.
MSU spokesperson Amber McCann declined to comment.
“It would not be appropriate for MSU to comment as the Board of Trustees passed a resolution in December 2021 that prohibits the university from taking a position on these matters,” she said by email.
Pauls said the Extension employees are being assisted in efforts to unionize by their parent union, the American Federation of Teachers. MSU has 11 unions.
Pauls said there is high turnover at MSU Extension from people leaving for better-paying jobs in the nonprofit and private sectors.
Union or not, Pauls said he’s staying, but it’s time to course-correct.
“We do it because we love what we do. We are very passionate about our work. I understand that I’m never going to break the bank doing this job, but I think the university would be wise and would recognize that ‘hey we have these people that are passionate about their work, we are a world-class agricultural institution.’”