DIGEST: LIMITED REOPENER SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

9 May 2019

The UFE Bargaining Team is pleased to announce that it has reached a tentative agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding with The Evergreen State College on the limited reopener to the Collective Bargaining Agreement as specified in Article 30.1 (CBA, p. 68). This MOU will remain in effect for the final two years of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (2018-21). All other articles addressed in the CBA remain the same, including summer workshops and sabbaticals. Negotiations with the college continued during spring quarter and concluded on Wednesday May 8, 2019.

See TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING ALL REOPENER ISSUES – 5/8/19

RATIFICATION PROCESS: On Monday May 13, the UFE Stewards Council ratified the Tentative Agreement (TA). The Bargaining Team, Coordinating Committee, and Stewards Council recommended a YES vote on this tentative agreement to the UFE membership. A ratification meeting for the membership was held on Friday, May 17 in SEM2C-1107. This was an opportunity to hear the Bargaining Team discuss the sections outlined in the TA and answer questions. Voting in person by the membership began after the UFE meeting. Voting electronically began on Saturday, May 18 at 12 a.m. and continued through Tuesday, May 21 at 5 p.m. This was a yes or no vote on all of the measures in the TA. To see our vote turnout numbers (and other recent vote tallies), click on the “Voting Stats” link on the right side of this page (under the “Resource” side-bar).

The following post (below) summarizes the changes to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as negotiated in the current TA.

Article 12: Compensation

• The Faculty Salary Grid in effect as of August 31, 2019, will be increased by three percent (3.0%) effective September 1, 2019; and 
• The Faculty Salary Grid in effect as of August 31, 2020, will be increased by three percent (3.0%) effective September 1, 2020.

Article 10: Adjunct Faculty Review and Reappointment

Section 10.2.3, which describes a process through which the College has transitioned certain adjunct faculty positions to half-time regular faculty positions, will be suspended for the remainder of the current CBA. The UFE will spend time discussing this issue with adjunct faculty prior to our next contract negotiation.

Management Requests:

Article 6: Professional Responsibilities

A new section will be added to Article 6 to reflect the responsibility that all faculty members have to complete required training on non-discrimination policies and procedures, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, legal risks, College policies, and ethical rules. Most of the trainings will be online and renewed every two years. Sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and Title IX training will be in person annually during governance time.

Voluntary Faculty Separation Incentive

In a separate Memorandum of Understanding, management wanted to offer a one-time retirement incentive for up to 15 regular faculty members who are at experience year 29 or above during the 2018-19 academic year. Eligible faculty should seek advice from an attorney. Contact the Provost’s office for more information. See MOU Regarding Faculty Separation Incentive – 5/8/19

UFE Bargaining Team: Jon Davies (Bargaining Chair), Grace Huerta, Laurie Meeker, Gary McNeil (WEA), Shawn Hazboun and Julie Russo.

UNION PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES:

UFE MEMBERSHIP RATIFICATION MEETING: Friday May 17, 5-6 pm, SEM2 C1107.

UFE SOCIAL: Friday May 17, 6:30-8:30 at Headless Mumby Brewing Company – across the street from Vics Pizza – at 232 Division Street NW in Olympia.