Bargaining Update 3-12-25 and 3-26-25

Where we are: On 3/26 we reached 3 tentative agreements! This is a first step towards coming to an agreement with management and there is still a lot of work to be done. A tentative agreement (TA) is reached when the two sides agree on changes made to an article. The TAs are only final if USA membership votes to accept the entire contract at the end of the bargaining process. 

USA Member and Silent Bargaining Rep Coordinator Chris Weeks made a stellar presentation to management about our transformative 7-step proposal. It includes cost estimates to the University. Check out the slides here!!

Tentative Agreements Reached!

USA and the University came to tentative agreements on:

  • Article 7 Anti-Discrimination
    • Expands the protected classes in our contract.
    • Prevented the University’s attempt to further limit how members can report discrimination.
  • Article 20 Reclassification
    • Clarified and streamlined processes.
  • Article 22 Layoff and Recall
    • Modernized and updated language to reflect current processes.
    • Updates to Section 22 G, which allows employees who are scheduled to be laid off or are in layoff status to fill vacant bargaining unit positions of an equal or lower-graded classification, as long as that employee meets the minimum qualifications.

USA Counter and Market Analysis for the Farm Superintendent Proposal

  • James Poro presented a counter proposal including an in-depth market analysis for Farm Manager positions at equivalent institutions in response to the University’s previous cost analysis.
  • The proposed change to grade 20 from USA has been changed to a change to grade 18.

University Counter for Article 27 Grievance and Arbitration 

  • Due to the University not providing us with their most updated version of Article 27 previously, we could not present the counter we had prepared today. 
  • The University used light blue text to show proposed changes that they have accepted.

Article 17 Vacancies and Promotions

  • On 3/12 USA presented this counter.
  • On 3/26 the University presented another counter.
  • Most of the changes being discussed for Article 17 have to do with modernizing and simplifying language.
  • The University accepted the related side letter to convene a Joint Labor/Management to investigate implementing Major Budgetary Unit (MBU) searches for vacancies in USA. MBU-only searches are used in PSU for internal hires.
  • The University used light blue text to show proposed changes that they have accepted.

University Counter to USA’s Proposal 12: Article 18 Contracting Out/Temporary Employees

  • University rejected our proposal without a counter. They believe current language is sufficient and that our concerns should be brought to the Joint Labor/Management Committee.
  • Our proposal would add protections against privatization in response to the University’s illegal privatization of 120 union positions in Advancement last year.