AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress (AAUP-CBC) was the labor negotiation arm of the American Association of University Professors, a left-leaning labor union for college professors that lobbies for pro-union and left-of-center educational and economic policies and collectively bargains on behalf of college instructors. From 2013 through 2019, the AAUP-CBC was a separate entity and acted as the labor union arm for AAUP and its charitable arm, the AAUP Foundation, which focused on lobbying, public policy and professional development efforts. ^{1 2}

The AAUP-CBC was folded back into AAUP on January 1, 2020 and the two became a single lobbying organization and labor union. In 2022, AAUP announced it had reached an agreement to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers and through AFT the AFL-CIO in a deal whereby all the union bargaining previously conducted by AAUP-CBC would be conducted by the AFT while AAUP would maintain separate non-union lobbying efforts. ³

Background

AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress was formed in 2013 as part of a reorganization of the American Association of University Professors. AAUP, which was founded in 1915 as the first labor union supporting college professors, had long focused on academic freedom and promoting the adoption and expansion of academic tenure policies. AAUP announced in 2013 that it was becoming three distinct organizations: a 501(c)(3) charitable arm called the AAUP Foundation, a 501(c)(5) labor union called the AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress, and the AAUP itself, a 501(c)(6) professional society for professors. All AAUP chapters that engaged in collective bargaining immediately became eligible to become affiliates of the AAUP-CBC upon its formation. The division allowed AAUP-CBC to focus solely on union organizing and collective bargaining apart from AAUP’s non-union lobbying and advocacy work. ^{4 5}

During AAUP-CBC’s existence as a standalone organization, the union was responsible for collective bargaining for college professors and operated state and campus-level AAUP local union chapters. The AAUP-CBC also hosted annual union organizer training summer programs that trained union members on union organizing and contract negotiations. ⁶

Reincorporation into AAUP

In 2019, AAUP announced plans to once again fold AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress back into AAUP, undoing the separation created in 2013. The organizational change folded the governing boards and constitutions of both organizations into one labor union that would also engage in lobbying on state and federal public policy issues. ⁷

AFT Merger

In 2022, the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers announced an affiliation agreement similar to a merger between the organizations. While AAUP and AAUP-Collective Bargaining Congress will retain the same names, its union organizing activities will be conducted under the AFT umbrella and all AAUP chapters and affiliates will become affiliates of the AFT and the AFL-CIO. The AFT also announced plans to assist the AAUP in its lobbying efforts. The AAUP-CBC local union chapters of the AAUP will become local affiliates of the AFT and AFL-CIO. ⁸

1. “Introducing the New, Restructured AAUP.” American Association of University Professors. December 19, 2012. Accessed March 11, 2022. https://www.aaup.org/news/introducing-new-restructured-aaup#.YipHhBPMLL8
2. “History.” American Association of University Professors. Accessed March 11, 2022.  https://www.aaup.org/about/history-aaup
3. Flaherty, Colleen. “‘A Voice That Needs to Be Heard.’” Inside Higher Ed. March 8 2022. Accessed March 11, 2022. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/03/08/aft-aaup-announce-new-affiliation-boost-faculty-voice
4. “Introducing the New, Restructured AAUP.” American Association of University Professors. December 19, 2012. Accessed March 11, 2022.  https://www.aaup.org/news/introducing-new-restructured-aaup#.YipHhBPMLL8
5. “History.” American Association of University Professors. Accessed March 11, 2022.  https://www.aaup.org/about/history-aaup
6. “Introducing the New, Restructured AAUP.” American Association of University Professors. December 19, 2012. Accessed March 11, 2022.  https://www.aaup.org/news/introducing-new-restructured-aaup#.YipHhBPMLL8
7. “2020 Restructuring Information.” American Association of University Professors. Accessed March 11, 2022.  https://www.aaup.org/restructuring-information
8. Flaherty, Colleen. “‘A Voice That Needs to Be Heard.’” Inside Higher Ed. March 8, 2022. Accessed March 11, 2022. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/03/08/aft-aaup-announce-new-affiliation-boost-faculty-voice