Today’s FAM-L bargaining session moved at a steady but slow pace. While our negotiation team has moved nimbly in creating counter-proposals during caucus sessions, Management has continued to demonstrate a lack of any real sense of urgency in returning the favor. 

We have started to see a few similarities between the FAM-T and FAM-L negotiations. For instance, Management has made it clear that, yet again, they have no intention of protecting their employees from discrimination beyond the federally-required minimum through their counter proposal on Non-Discrimination. They struck out the protections we proposed extending to our colleagues who face discrimination due to citizenship and immigration status, including caste, with no replacement language. They intend for the contract “be tied to the law,” apparently by the letter; for them, the bare minimum is enough. 

Additionally, Management stands firm that their employees have no place on the Board of Trustees. They formally rejected our proposed MOU regarding representation on the Board. It is “not a mandatory subject” and thus “do not have to discuss it” when pressed for reasons. (As most contracts include non-mandatory subjects, what this means is that they do not want to discuss it. We can revisit.)

Articles Passed Across

Our team came prepared to protect the intellectual property of librarians, bringing two proposals to present at the table: Intellectual Property, Copyright, and AI and Online Course Content. Management prepared two proposals: Dues Deduction and Management Rights. Both teams worked during caucus and FAM came back with a counter to Management’s Dues Deduction proposal. Management only came back with a few questions. 

There was small progress made by both teams, however: we were able to come to a tentative agreement on Labor-Management Meetings, which had been counter-proposed by Management earlier that day. 

We Need YOU

You can help us reach a super-majority of membership by bringing a friend with you to bargaining. so come and join us in person or on zoom! RSVP here for location and Zoom link.

For a complete list of proposals and MOUs submitted so far and where they are in the process, visit the FAM-L Proposal Tracker (scroll down). 

We’ll be back for FAM-L negotiations on November 29, with a tentative location of Hamilton’s Wilks Conference Center, then December 15. The next FAM-T bargaining sessions are this Wednesday, November 15. then December 6. RSVP here for locations and Zoom link: tinyurl.com/FAMbargaining.

Meanwhile: help win a better contract by increasing union leverage at the table — join FAM!