The Florida State University chapter of the United Faculty of Florida represents more than 1600 
The UFF-FSU Chapter will sponsor a May 24 luncheon featuring attorneys Thomas
W. Brooks and Lynn C. Hearn to discuss legal aspects of recent cuts in
retirement benefits. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that we can be
sure to have enough food and drink for all. Here is an excerpt from a
downloadable flyer available at
Merit Bonus and Other Updates
In response to a UFF-FSU Facilitation request and meeting (see Sec. 20.8(a) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement), FSU Administration representatives notified UFF-FSU representatives on Monday that additional merit bonus distributions will be made in several colleges and other academic units. The Facilitation was initiated because UFF-FSU analysis indicated certain units distributed less bonus funds than called for by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) negotiated between the Administration and UFF. Bargaining Co-Chair Dr. Scott Hannahs, Grievance
Chair Dr. Lee Stepina, UFF Service Unit Director Tom Wazlavek, and I conducted
the analysis and represented the UFF in the Faciliation meeting.
Colleges/units that should see substantial additional distributions include Motion Picture Arts (Film School), Student Affairs, Social Work, Institute for Science and Public Affairs, Graduate School, Ringling Center, Human Sciences, Undergraduate Studies, Visual Arts, Theatre, and Dance, Learning Systems Institute, and Education.
Report on University Welfare for Faculty Senate, April 18th, 2012
By Professor Jack Fiorito, Senator and UFF-FSU President
“Welcome” to new, continuing, and returning Senators. This is a good time to review the roles of the Senate and of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF). The Faculty Senate is the voice of the faculty on academic matters, and can express its opinion on “any subject of interest to the University.” (And I will come back to that in a minute.) The UFF is the exclusive bargaining agent for salaries and other terms and conditions of employment. These roles sometimes overlap, but I am pleased to say that we generally have collegial and professional working relations between the UFF and Senate.
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Discretionary Raises (ADI)
The UFF continues to hear reports from faculty that a few Deans and other administrators claim that the UFF is preventing them from giving raises to individual faculty members. Any such claim is a misstatement. As Vice President Ingram stated in a memo to Deans and Academic Directors on February 9th, “pay increases may be given [to UFF-represented faculty] at the discretion of the administration so long as they are in compliance” with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Section 23.9 of the Salaries article (Article 23) provides for the Administration to give “Administrative Discretionary Increases” (ADI), if funds are available, to individual faculty for the following reasons:
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UFF-FSU Chapter Election Results, 2012
All listed candidates were easily elected, along with a few write-ins. Our new (and not so new) UFF-FSU elected leadership, effective immediately is as follows:
Officers: Jack Fiorito, President and Senator; Nancy Kellett, Vice President and Senator; Jennifer Profffitt, Vice President and Senator; Joseph Hellweg, Secretary and Senator; Susan C. Losh, Treasurer
Senators: Neil Abell, Margaret Ashmore, Luis Balicas, Ralph Brower, Michael Buchler, Jeanette Castillo, Chris Coutts, Vlad Dobraslavljevic, Michael Fair, Alisha Gaines, Alejandro Gallard, Robin Goodman, Scott Hannahs, Kristine Harper, RaMonda Horton, Annette Jones, Randolph Langley, Ian McDonald, Joshua Newman, Irene Padavic, Kate Petersen, James Rhoades, Robert Schwartz, Lee Stepina, Jennifer Wells Continue reading
April First Friday
Our First Friday social gathering for April will be at Chez Pierre, 1215 Thomasville Road, beginning at 5:00 on Friday, April 6th. Appetizers will be provided.
Report to Faculty Senate on University Welfare, March 21, 2012
Collective Bargaining
Faculty voted overwhelmingly in favor of the changes and supplements to our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in last month’s ratification vote. A special thanks to those of you who voted!
I hope everyone has completed the reading assignments that I announced at last month’s Senate (see the February Senate Minutes). They will be helpful in appreciating some of the issues under discussion at the bargaining table. Continue reading
Another Legislative Session, Another Cut
The Florida Legislature has imposed yet another compensation cut on many faculty members. This year it wasn’t a pay cut per se, but a substantial cut in benefits to members of defined-contribution retirement plans, namely ORP and FRS Florida Investment Plan participants. We are still studying the details of a bill passed on the last day of the 2012 regular session, but it appears to cut 2.28 percentage points off of the State (or employer) contribution. As of July 1, 2012, the State’s contribution will drop from about 7.43% of gross salary to approximately 5.14%, costing most ORP-plan faculty members something on the order of $1800 per year, not including the foregone earnings that those funds might have accumulated in the future when invested in retirement accounts.
Judge Fulford’s Ruling on Pay Cuts
“UFF Takes Sides, Yours” is a bumper sticker motto.
Its importance is underscored in yesterday’s ruling by Judge Fulford to the
effect that the legislature cannot ignore its contractual obligations to
university faculty members and other participants in the Florida Retirement
System (whether pension or ORP). The battle over the effective 3% pay cut
imposed by last year’s legislature is clearly not over, but yesterday’s decision
is nonetheless a major victory for FSU faculty members and other public
employees.
That victory was made possible by the dues of UFF members and others whose
dues supported the legal challenge led by our FEA affiliate.
If you are not already a member, please join the UFF and help to build and
maintain a strong voice for faculty. You can find a membership form at:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/memform.pdf
To quote another UFF bumper sticker, we can do together what you cannot do
alone.
Links to selected documents relating to yesterday’s ruling by Judge
Fulford:
Tallahassee Democrat story in today’s paper:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/td20120307.pdf
Judge Fulford’s ruling:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/FulfordRuling20120306.pdf
FEA News Release:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/FEA-NewsReleaseFinal-20120306.pdf
FEA Q&A #1:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/FEA-Q&A1-20120306.pdf
FEA Q&A #2:
http://www.uff-fsu.org/art/FEA-Q&A2-20120306.pdf
The 2012 Legislative Session: Week Seven
Oppose Severe Cuts for State Universities
We are down to the last week to leave messages for legislators. This is
our last chance to stop severe budget cuts. There is reason to think we
could reduce the damage if we stay with the task.