The United College Employees of FIT (UCE of FIT) was established in 1967. It began by representing full-time faculty who sought support from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to organize for collective bargaining rights.
In 1967, the union and FIT reached a contract, making it one of the earliest higher education collective bargaining agreements in New York State. AFT recognizes FIT as a pioneering higher education local in the state and cites its early contract as among the first AFT higher education agreements in New York.
By 1970, the union expanded to include staff and part-time employees, becoming one of the early higher education locals to represent a broad range of college workers rather than faculty alone.
Over the following decades, UCE of FIT has continued to negotiate contracts covering wages, job protections, governance participation, and working conditions for its bargaining unit members.
Today, the union continues to advocate for fair compensation, equitable policies, and a strong voice for faculty and staff in institutional decision-making, building on the foundation established in 1967.