February 3, 2026

UUP opened negotiations for its next contract with the state on Wednesday, Feb. 4, nearly five months before the current agreement expires in July.

That marks the earliest start to negotiations in memory and possibly in the union’s 53-year history.

Chief Negotiator Bret Benjamin said UUP's Negotiations Team presented a comprehensive set of bargaining demands to the state at a noontime meeting with state negotiators. He said he expects more bargaining sessions to be scheduled in the coming days, with the hope that both sides can settle on a fair agreement before the current contract expires July 1.

“We are going to be as communicative as possible,” he said. “We have a really strong emphasis on job security in this round; we want to expand paths to permanency. We’ve got a really forward-looking set of demands. This is a transformational set of proposals.”

Benjamin and UUP President Fred Kowal set the stage for the talks with a Feb. 3 virtual meeting of more than 800 UUP members that had the exuberant tone of a pep rally before a playoff game. Several chapters set up watch parties in packed meeting rooms on their campuses and members could be seen cheering and waving UUP signs.

Remarks by Kowal and Benjamin matched the determined and unified mood of members. No one can be overconfident entering negotiations, Kowal cautioned, but members can take heart that they have helped their Negotiations Team start talks with the best possible gauge of what matters to the union.

“Folks, we’re going to the table with language already written,” Kowal told the audience. “Usually we are writing the language as we negotiate. Not this time … this is a really pressure-packed environment that we’re going to the table in. We’re going to the table with bulls-eyes on our backs, thanks to the regime in Washington.”

"Our aim here is for a fair, equitable and on-time contract," he said. "But we also want a full and serious round of negotiations to address the real concerns raised by our members at virtual town halls and in surveys, emails and engagement at the chapter level."

Benjamin is leading negotiations for the second consecutive time. He promised to keep members updated on their progress.

Only UUP members can vote on the contract. To join UUP, go HERE.