UCF’s Blue-Collar Employees Declare Impasse Following Bad-Faith Bargaining

Following months of negotiations around fair and just pay and benefits for the University of Central Florida’s blue-collar employees, members of AFSCME Local 3345 declared impasse on Monday, December 1. AFSCME Local 3345 will continue to negotiate in good faith if UCF will do so as well but will also move forward with the impasse process outlined by Florida Statute 447.403.

The contract bargaining team sent Maureen Binder, associate vice president and chief HR officer, notice after UCF’s refusal to negotiate in good faith or to reach agreement on essential language. The actions by UCF’s bargaining team demonstrated a pattern of intentionally prolonging negotiations. Management’s clear intent is to force employees into accepting an unfair deal or risk losing a bonus earned following UCF’s designation as a Preeminent State Research University.

AFSCME members are focused on dealing with the persistent wage compression problem that has found workers with decades of experience making the same amount as new hires. Additionally, wages have consistently lagged inflation, which has only become more pronounced in 2025. The issue is contributing to burnout, low morale and issues with finding qualified workers for open positions. 

The mechanics, custodians, dispatchers, plumbers and other employees who make UCF happen every day are proud to make UCF a world-class university and will never quit on the community they serve. But they are not just numbers on a spreadsheet that can be used to fund UCF’s future through pay and benefits that undervalue their work and disrespect them as working Americans. 

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