What was the theme of today’s FAM-T bargaining? Job security. Job security. Job security.
FAM countered on several key articles important to our members’ job promotion and job security protections: Appointment, Renewal, and Promotion of TCPL Faculty; Appointment and Promotion of Tenure Track and Tenured Faculty; and a package on Discipline and Discharge and Academic Freedom.
FAM and management have come to agreement on much of the language in these articles, with some key sticking points. On TCPL Faculty, we are holding firm to our position that TCPL contracts will renew with some narrow exceptions (for cause; under financial exigency; and due to lack of work). This is current Miami policy. Management has not agreed to this language, insisting that they have the right to non-renew TCPL faculty for any reason. We are not prepared to compromise on that part of our proposal.
On Tenure Track and Tenured Faculty, again, FAM and management are in agreement on much of the language. Where we differ is in some of the language around clarifying the process for all faculty going up for tenure or promotion, and what happens in the event that someone is denied tenure or promotion.
Our package on Discipline and Discharge and Academic Freedom attempts to reach compromise with management by holding them to current university policy on Academic Freedom and moving closer to agreement on Discipline and Discharge, while not allowing management to unilaterally override the protections of progressive discipline or change its Academic Freedom policy in a way that erodes protection against disciplinary action.
For management’s part, they presented a single counter today, on Leaves. Their counter is not in line with current university policy (which provides for unlimited sick leave accrual), nor is it in line with Ohio law (which states the same). It seems unlikely that our members would be happy with any reduction in the current sick leave benefit, especially since it wouldn’t apply to administrators.
You can read all proposals in full here!
Join us next week for the Rally for Raises! It’s time to choose your future and show management you won’t accept 1.25% raises. We gather next Friday, September 20 at noon at the Seal behind Roudebush — RSVP here!
Today’s Q&A
Q: I know membership is leverage for a better contract. But does becoming a FAM member mean I’ll start paying dues right away?
A: No. No dues are collected from members until the contract is agreed upon and ratified by the entire membership. Dues amounts will be voted upon by FAM membership and negotiated with the university. At other unionized campuses in Ohio, they typically fall around 1%–1.5% of one’s base salary. Because of the union wage premium, you can expect that dues will be more than made up for by salary increases, given the bargaining power a union provides (see this US Treasury analysis). The majority of dues stay with the local chapter and are used at the discretion of the membership.
Strong FAM membership gives your negotiating team leverage to push harder at the table on compensation and your other priorities. Learn more about becoming a member of FAM.
PS: Get answers here to your questions about raises, pace of bargaining, and more.
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