FAM-T was back at the table today for the first time since December 19. Today was another day where FAM’s bargaining team proposed articles that your faculty surveys indicated are top priority: benefits. Our proposals on health, vision, and dental insurance center around lowering costs for our members, protecting our benefits, and strengthening our university benefit processes. These benefits will not only make the university a more attractive place to work, but strengthen our retention and recruitment through attractive, robust insurance plans.
Highlights of FAM’s benefits proposals
- You will have $0 taken out of your paycheck for basic plan coverage
- Your domestic partner will have coverage
- Your union will have a seat at the table to work with the University and the Benefits Committee so that we can continue to protect our members and their benefits
- You will not be forced to abide by Healthy Miami requirements
Seeking basic rights for faculty
Unfortunately, today was also yet another day where the expensive outside law firm showcased their ignorance of your rights as faculty members. The university continued to present a cramped and constricted understanding of academic freedom and the rights of faculty:
- The University’s counter-proposal on Academic Freedom states that they recognize existing policy, but would allow them to unilaterally change the policy at any time without negotiation
- Their proposal on how to grieve or appeal disputes or provisions in the contract limits member rights and fails to assure that issues will be resolved in an equitable way
What else you need to know
The team also passed across a proposal on faculty parking benefits and countered on their proposals on Separability and Dues Deduction (see file 6). We also signed an agreement with the university to continue the work of several committees, although the important Committee on the Evaluation of Administrators remains paused by administrative fiat.
You can review all proposals and see where they are in the process on the FAM Bargaining Tracker.
Next moves
As always, we need your support! Come to bargaining in person or on Zoom (RSVP and find out more at tinyurl.com/FAMBargaining). Wear your button, and use your FAM Zoom background. Even small actions have large impacts. Looking for more in depth information about what is happening at the negotiation table? Come to the FAM State of Bargaining, which will be held on February 8 & February 9 in our office (refreshments provided). Can’t make it in person? Register for the Zoom and full details on our website. And talk to your colleagues about why you joined FAM.
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