Category: Bargaining News

The bargaining teams met on June 18, and the BOT team presented its counterproposal on Article 23 Salaries.  The BOT proposal was disappointing in offering very little merit increases, no cost of living adjustments, and no market equity adjustments, all high priority issues identified by the UFF spring faculty poll. The UFF-FSU team argued that by offering no “performance-based” or “across the board” raises and by doing nothing to address market equity, the BOT proposal would exacerbate salary compression and inversion.   During a caucus the UFF-FSU team put together a counterproposal and presented it to the BOT team. For reference the UFF-FSU team pointed out that at UNF even the admin has proposed “performance-based” increase of 4% as a COLA and funds for market equity.

The teams also signed a Memorandum of Agreement clarifying the ability of Instructional Support Track faculty to be assigned up to 25% of their time for teaching, as specified in the CBA. The next bargaining session is scheduled for July 9.

The teams met on May 28 and June 6.

The BOT team presented a counterproposal on Article 24 Benefits and the teams continued to discuss the issue.  The UFF-FSU team presented a proposal on Article 30 Severability, and the teams discussed it, as well.  The BOT team anticipates having a salary counter-proposal on Article 23 Salary by June 18, so the parties agreed to schedule the next bargaining session for that date.

Here is a list of the status of contract articles open for bargaining in 2014 with links to the signed versions.

1. Negotiating Ground Rules
2. Article  8 – Appointment  – Opened by BOT – Tentatively Agreed
3. Article  9 – Assignment of Responsibilities – Opened by BOT – Withdrawn
   
4. Article 10 – Performance Evaluations – Tentatively Agreed
5. Article 23 – Salaries – Opened by both – UFF Proposed – Tentatively Agreed
6. Article 24 – Benefits – Opened by UFF – Withdrawn
7. Article 29 – Severability – Opened by UFF – Withdrawn
8. Article 30 – Amendment and Duration – Opened by both – Tentatively Agreed
9. Promotion Increase MOA – Tentatively Agreed
10. Winter Break MOA – Opened by Both – Tentatively Agreed
11. Domestic Partner Stipend Policy and MOA – Opened by both – Tentatively Agreed
12. Instructional Support Faculty MOA – Opened by BOT – Tentatively Agreed

Bargaining for the 2014-15 reopeners commenced on April 30, and the teams agreed to Negotiating Ground Rules and gave overviews of the changes they seek.  The BOT team opened Article 8 Appointment and Article 9 Assignment of Responsibilities, with the goal of seeking changes in regard to Specialized Faculty, and the UFF team opened Article 24 Benefits and Article 29 Severability.  Two other articles open automatically:  Article 23 Salaries and Article 30 Amendment and Duration.  The teams also plan to discuss an MOA on Winter break.

The teams met on May 7, 14, and 21 and made progress on the open issues.  We reached a Tentative Agreement on Article 8 Appointment that specifies how temporary “bridge funding” will work in cases where a granting agency reduces or redirects funding such that it affects Specialized Faculty with multi-year agreements.  The teams also engaged in “Interest-Based Bargaining” around Article 24 Benefits and agreed to set up a joint labor-management committee to discuss improvements in benefits, but negotiations continue on the issue.  The UFF-FSU team presented a proposal for Article 23 Salaries on May 21, and the BOT team is considering it.   The BOT team presented a proposal on Article 9 Assignment of Responsibilities and the teams discussed it.

In acknowledgement that the delay in implementing raises is a loss of pay to faculty, the bargaining teams agreed to distribute the funds across the bargaining unit.  This will result in a one time payment to faculty who have been rated satisfactory on their evaluation.  This payment will be distributed on December 13, and will be over $200 with the exact amount to be calculated by the university.

This bonus along with all provisions of the contract must be ratified by the faculty in a vote this week.  All modified provisions of the contract are posted here.