Article 8 Inclement Weather

At a previous bargaining session, Management presented a proposal intended to ensure that USA staff would be able to switch to remote work in the event of a campus closure.  USA’s bargaining team and several Silent Bargaining Representatives (SBR’s) coordinated with the bargaining team and SBRs of the Professional Staff Union (PSU) to develop a robust counterproposal that rejected working from home during inclement weather, but addressed management concerns for employees who work outside the Amherst area who are subject to the closure policy of the campus.

Article 8 and 12 Shift Differential (USA Counter)

USA provided a counterproposal to increase the second shift and weekend work differential to $2.00 per hour, and increase the third shift work differential to $3.50 (a counter to management’s $1.50 per hour for both second and third shift employees).

Article 12 Holidays

At a previous bargaining session, management rejected the proposal to close the University on the days before and after Thanksgiving, and for the entirety of the week between Christmas and New Years Day.  Their argument was that the bargaining team did not have the authority to make a decision to close the university while at the table with a single union, but eluded to the possibility being “considered” by executive management.  In this bargaining session, USA’s Bargaining Team asked management to provide a counterproposal to indicate a good faith commitment to this, including having a USA member involved with those discussions, as the other institutions in the 5 College area already close during the holidays. Management refused to provide any counter on this proposal.

USA agreed to move language regarding holiday differential pay from Article 8 to Article 12, and proposed switching Memorial Day for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as “premium pay” holidays for staff who work these holidays in lieu of a day off.

Article 19 Out of Title Work (University Response)

Management provided a counterproposal which included an increase in the weekly stipend from $15 per day to $20 per day.  This figure, according to management’s research, was last adjusted in 2015.  After a brief caucus, USA countered this proposal with an increase to $30 per day.

Article 23 Seniority and Step Language (University Counter)

Management rejected extension of seniority from 2 years to 3 years for grant contracted or institute employees.

New Article Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Management rejected this proposal outright, without providing a counter, stating that this would limit the University’s ability to implement AI tools. USA argued that this proposal was not intended to curtail the University’s use or implementation of AI, but rather to ensure that AI is developed and used ethically and ensuring that staff were adequately trained in its use, augmenting rather than replacing staff in their assigned roles. When USA asked Management which sections they believed would impede these efforts, Management’s bargaining lead Alexcia Davis answered that she has “no specifics for you other than the fact that as a research university, we need the ability to use all resources.”

As a matter of procedure, USA requested that the two sides begin consolidating all proposals under the same contract article into one single document.  Proposal names will change in future bargaining updates.  Additionally, USA requested to begin bargaining on a weekly basis, and will coordinate with management on scheduling for future bargaining sessions.