The BOT and the UFF-FSU teams met for the first bargaining session of the season this week. During this round of negotiations, each team opens two articles, plus salaries, for renegotiation.
The BOT team opened Articles 13 (Layoff and Recall) and Article 19 (Conflict of Interest/Outside Activity). The UFF team opened Article 17 (Leaves) and Article 24 (Benefits).
The BOT chose to reopen Layoff and Recall despite “having no current plan in place for layoffs.” The issues, they said, center on “transparency and efficiency.” They gave examples of wanting to clarify language relating to the order of notices of layoff, defining alternative employment options for laid-off faculty, and defining a layoff unit. They had no language to share but promised to have this at our next meeting. Without seeing their proposed language, it is impossible to ascertain what they are seeking or how it might be applied, but rest assured that the UFF team will strenuously advocate on behalf of all faculty.
The BOT team’s second re-opened article is Conflict of Interest/Outside Activity. They proposed language requiring faculty to annually declare that they have read the policy about conflict of interest/outside activity, and they proposed making the language limiting sexual relationships between faculty and students more restrictive.
The UFF team chose to reopen Leaves in order to propose two changes. One change would allow the existing 6-month paid parental leave to be broken into two segments, creating flexibility for faculty seeking to use the leave for the birth or adoption of two children over the course of their employment. The other created a new category—paid family leave—that would offer six months of paid leave to care for a sick family member.
The UFF team also opened Benefits, where we also proposed two changes. One proposes an option for “tapered employment,” whereby faculty age 60 and above can move into part-time status while retaining health benefits, and the other proposed improvements to the “Tuition Scholarship.” The first proposed improvement is to move this benefit into the CBA, giving it more permanent status. The other improvements are to expand it to spouses rather than just children, and to allow it to be used for graduate credit rather than just undergraduate.
The Salaries article is open, but negotiations are being held off until there is further clarity on the budget situation.
The UFF team is eager for bargaining to continue weekly and thus is disappointed to announce that the BOT team will not meet with us for another three weeks. Unless the BOT affirmatively responds to our request for weekly sessions (which is the norm), the next session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, from 2:00-4:00 on zoom. Faculty members are welcome and can reply to this email to receive the zoom link.
The key to a strong Collective Bargaining Agreement is a strong membership base, so if you are not a member, please join! There has never been a more important time for us to stand together. https://uff-fsu.org/wp/join/
All best, Irene Padavic and Scott Hannahs, Co-Chief Negotiators, UFF-FSU
