This member update includes:
- Update on Bargaining New Ranks
- Executive Council adopts revisions to PSU-AAUP Bylaws
- Welcome Emily Wiant, new PSU-AAUP Office Coordinator
- PSU administration grants remedy on TSUSP Guideline contractual grievance; Association avoids arbitration costs
- Agreement reached with administration on revisions to PSU Consensual Relations Policy
- Agreement reached with administration on revisions to the PSU Acceptable Use Policy
1. Update on Bargaining New Ranks
Leanne Serbulo, Vice President Collective Bargaining
On Thursday, June 5th, the two teams met for a second bargaining session to negotiate the effects of the implementation of the revision to the University Promotion and Tenure Guidelines, and to set salaries for the new fixed-term faculty rates. At our first meeting, we offered a proposal that was based on both internal equity considerations and external comparator data. The administration passed across a proposal that contained basically the same salaries they had offered during our March bargaining session (See below). The administration insists that external comparator data is not relevant because departments can always offer a salary which is higher than the minimum. They propose a three-tiered system that ranks instructor and research assistants/ associate ranks at the bottom, the clinical and professor of practice ranks above that, and the tenure-line ranks at the top.
We responded with a counter-proposal (see proposal for the transition language we proposed as well). We lowered our Senior Research Associate II salary because researchers still have the option to promote to the professorial ranks under the new P&T guidelines. We slightly lowered our Senior Instructor II salary to take into account our members who promoted to Assistant Professor and had to earn a doctorate degree to do so. We have not moved on the Professor of Practice/Clinical professor ranks because the administration’s refusal to consider external comparator data when assigning salaries to these ranks is problematic.
The administration has promised to send us a counter-proposal early next week. We will meet again in to negotiate on Monday, June 16th at 9:00 in the Market Center building.
When members make their voices heard, it helps us at the table. Email Carol Mack (mackc@pdx.edu) or join us on June 16th!
Click here to see table of proposals.
2. Executive Council adopts minor Bylaw changes
The Executive Council made some minor changes to the PSU-AAUP Bylaws. Click here for the strikeout version of the revised AAUP Bylaws.
3. Welcome to Emily Wiant, New Office Coordinator
Last week we said good bye to Bertita Compere, AAUP Office Coordinator for the last 8 years and welcomed Emily Wiant as our Office Coordinator. Emily joined the Association in January 2014 as office assistant to assist the AAUP organizing effort and spent alot of time working side by side with Tita supporting her in her work. With Tita's departure it was a natural transition to move Emily into the role of Office Coordinator. Emily will work part time 25 hours per week through the beginning of Fall term.
4. PSU Administration grants remedy on TSUSP Guideline contractual grievance; Association avoids arbitration costs
Last summer the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning submitted minor revisions to their School Guidelines to the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) for approval. OAA refused to approve the guidelines in total as they contained provisions regarding workload and merit pay. These provisions had been in the guidelines for many years. PSU-AAUP filed a contractual grievance at Division A asserting the guidelines were protected by the past practice provisions of the contract.
The University denied the grievance at every step and on March 12, 2014 PSU-AAUP filed a demand to arbitrate the issue. An arbitrator was selected, hearing dates were scheduled, and legal expenses for the legal challenge were approved. On the last day that we could cancel the arbitrator without incurring substantial cancellation fees PSU agreed they would grant the requested remedy and we signed a grievance settlement agreement that not only resolves the instant grievance from August 2013, but provides assurance from the University that they will honor the past practice of these provisions in TSUSP.
5. Agreement reached with Administration on revisions to PSU Consensual Relations Policy
On or about January 27 the PSU Office of General Counsel promulgated proposed changes to the PSU Consensual Relations Policy.
On February 14 PSU-AAUP provided input to the policy and a demand to bargain over the proposed revision.
PSU-AAUP met with PSU management on a number of occasions to bargain the matter and reached agreement in early May with an MOU that modifies the policy revision as AAUP requested.
6. Agreement reached with administration on revisions to the PSU Acceptable Use Policy
On or about November 1 the PSU Office of General Counsel promulgated proposed changes to the PSU Acceptable Use Policy.
On November 18 PSU-AAUP provided input to the policy and a demand to bargain over the proposed revision.
PSU-AAUP met with PSU management on a number of occasions and the parties finally reached agreement today on those revisions with an MOU that modifies the policy as AAUP requested.
While we are pleased to report progress on a few outstanding disputes, we remain very concerned that so many disputes remain unresolved. We are talking about possible resolutions to the other cases, but administration appears to have entrenched positions that are antagonistic to the interests of PSU Faculty on a number of them. We should know soon what can be resolved with PSU attorneys and what may need formal adjudication.
We are also in the process of scheduling the Unfair Practice hearing with the Employment Relations Board over administration's threat to cut off the email access for any AAUP member that would have gone on strike- a threat we find to be egreious and unlawful. As soon as we have a firm date we will send it out to you. All members are welcome to attend the hearing.
Thank you for reading. Stay informed. Stay connected with your colleagues. Keep the faith.