Hundreds of University of Vermont employees have voted in favor of union representation but haven’t given a clear majority to either union on the ballot.
Research and library support staffers, technicians and other workers voted Tuesday and Wednesday on whether they wanted to organize. They were also asked whether they wanted to join a union affiliated with the Vermont NEA teachers’ union or a group based at UVM called United Staff.
The votes were counted Wednesday night.
UVM vice president Richard Cate says the vote for union representation was 339-278. A runoff election needs to be scheduled to decide what union to join.
The NEA received 183 votes. United Staff received 168 votes. The option of neither union received 260 votes.
Voter turnout was high. Of the 777 employees eligible, 618 voted. That’s 80 percent participation.