November 20th, 2024

Where we are:The final day to bring new proposals to the bargaining table has been changed to the next meeting, which is scheduled for December 11th 9-11am. USA presented five proposals. Management did not present, but we anticipate a final proposal and counter from them at the next meeting. Please see below for information about the proposals and bookmark our Bargaining Headquarters to stay informed!

USA’s Proposals

Proposal 10: Article 9 Leave

• Increases sick leave from 12 days to 14 days per year. 
• Increases bereavement leave from 5 days to 10 days and expands what relationships the leave can be used for. 
• Consolidates Maternity and Adoptive, Parental, and Family Leave sections into one Family Leave section. 
• Clarifies family leave language to reflect changes in state laws. 
• Increases unpaid family leave from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, which can be requested after paid family leave is used. 
• Link: Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) overview and benefits | Mass.gov

Proposal 11: Article 17 Vacancies and Promotions

• Prevents a change in an employee’s anniversary date when their grade or step changes. 

Proposal 12: Article 18 Contracting Out (Postponed to 12/11 Meeting)

Proposal 13: Seniority & Steps

• Increase timeframe for employees to retain their previous seniority from 2 years to 3 years when returning to work. 
• Seniority can be reinstated under certain conditions such as returning to work following an illness or a layoff. 

Proposal 14: Farm Superintendent

• Increases pay grade from 16 to 20 to reflect pay rates at similar job titles across UMass campuses. 
• Note: The process for re-grading a position is typically resolved in meetings between USA and management, and not brought to the bargaining table. In this case, management compelled us to bring it to the bargaining table. Re-grading is different from the reclassification process for individual positions, which can be found here.

Proposal 15: Salary Proposal (Postponed to 12/11 Meeting)

• We will be holding informational membership meetings about this proposal on Tue 12/3 and Wed 12/4 12-1 on Zoom. Outlook invite forthcoming.

Proposal 16: Artificial Intelligence (New Article)

• Ensures AI will be used to augment bargaining unit members’ work instead of replacing bargaining unit work. 
• Requires that any new AI programs be evaluated for efficiency, cost effectiveness, accuracy, and impact on the working conditions of bargaining unit employees.

Involves bargaining unit members in the implementation of AI tools and requires training on AI to be provided. 

University’s Proposals

Management did not bring any proposals. They will be bringing their final proposals to the next bargaining session on December 11, 2024.

November 6th, 2024

Where we are: The USA Bargaining Team and management continued to present proposals. Our next bargaining session on 11/20 will be the last meeting we can present new proposals, per our Ground Rules. Once all proposals have been presented, we will move on to constructing counter proposals and start negotiating these proposals with management. Please see below for information about the proposals and bookmark our Bargaining Headquarters to stay informed! 

USA’s Proposals

Proposal 7: Article 19, Out-of-Title Work  

• Increases pay rate for an employee who is directed by their supervisor to perform duties handled by a member of a different bargaining unit from $15 per day to 1.5 times the employee’s regular pay rate 

Proposal 8: Article 11, Vacation Time  

• Increases the annual vacation time accrual for USA members based on years of service: 
  • New hire – 5 years: 20 days per year  
  • 5 – 10 years: 21 days per year  
  • 10 – 19.5 years: 22 days per year  
  • 19.5 – 30 years: 25 days per year  
  • 30 years or more: 30 days per year  

Proposal 9: Article 14, Dedicated Service Recognition  

• Reduces the years of service required to receive recognition from the University and increases the compensation payout as follows: 
  • 1.75% increase to base bay at 10 years of service.   
  • 3% increase to base pay at 15 years, and every 5 years thereafter. 

University’s Proposals 

The USA Bargaining Team are assessing the implications of the University’s proposals and will provide additional information in the future. In the meantime, the proposals will be posted on the USA Bargaining Headquarters for you to read. Keep in mind that these proposals are initial drafts and will change as bargaining proceeds. Nothing is final until the USA membership votes to ratify the contract.

University Proposal 1, 2024-2027 Wage Parameters  

• Note: Parameters are the shorthand term we use to refer to the salary increases that are set by the Governor for all statewide public unions. Essentially, they determine how much money from the state budget will be put towards wage increases in our contracts.
• Management’s proposal presents the parameters set by the Governor: 
  • 0% in July 2024 
  • 3% in January 2025 
  • 2% increase every 6 months thereafter until January 2027 
  • 11% total over the life of the contract 
  • Prohibits the $200 per full-time employee Adjustment Pool being used to increase salary rates and classification increases 

University Proposal 8: Article 26 Disciplinary Action

• Aims to unify disciplinary procedures for staff unions 
• More information forthcoming

University Proposal 9: Article 29 Employee Evaluation  

• Removed a lot of current language and added new language.
• Changed time frame of giving evaluations.
• Added employees may receive disciplinary action if an evaluation may be less than “meets expectations”.
• Remove employees may “grieve” an evaluation if it results in negative action.

Edits to Article 8 Workweek and Work Schedules (Version 1)  

Edits to Article 8 Workweek and Work Schedules (Version 2)

• Changes in this article and Article 17B & 17D with the two versions by removing and/or reformatting the articles.
• Change of an employee who has had an involuntary change of their work location/work site, the employee is given ten (10) days’ notice instead of thirty (30) days’ notice.

General Proposal: Article 27 Grievance and Arbitration Procedure

• Management replaced this whole article, bargaining team needs to review with current language.

October 23rd, 2024

Many proposals from both USA and management were presented at today’s bargaining meeting. We presented two coalition proposals, which are proposals that are being brought to the table by multiple unions to increase our negotiating power. Once all proposals have been presented, we will move on to constructing counter proposals. Please see below for information about the proposals! 

USA Presented Proposals 2-6 

• Proposal 2: Article 12 Holidays and Campus Closures
  • A coalition proposal to close the campus the Wednesday before and Friday after Thanksgiving, and all days between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. 
• Proposal 3: Shift Differential  
  • Increase shift differential from $1.00 per hour to 2.50 per hour for second shift and $4.00 per hour for third shift 
  • Increase holiday pay differential to 1.5 times pay 
• Proposal 4: Article 25 Health and Safety 
  • Require University to provide PPE when required by an employee’s assignment 
  • Gives employees the right to refuse to work in an unsafe environment and protects them from discipline until an investigation is performed 
  • Adds process for requesting air quality assessment and remediation from the University in work areas 
  • Publish a map of accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms and affirm the right of employees to use workplace bathrooms appropriate to their gender identity  
  • Provide workplace accommodations for lactation in accordance with federal and state law 
  • Direct supervisors to give employees release time to participate in campus health and wellness events 
  • Commits UMass to its mission as a Health Promoting University by encouraging them to reduce food insecurity among staff and collect data on the health and wellbeing of staff  
• Proposal 5: Childcare (Coalition Proposal)
  • A coalition proposal to create a new article in the contract to increase the capacity and offerings of UMass’ Center for Early Education and Care (CEEC) by creating slots for USA members’ children, increasing hours of operation, and offering infant care 
  • Come to the All Union Rally & Stroller Parade for Childcare Friday 11/1 at noon in front of the Student Union! 
• Proposal 6: Labor Management Committee (LMC) 
  • The LMC is comprised of 6 members, 3 representing campus administration and 3 representing USA whose purpose is to keep open dialogue between the university and the union about mutual concerns on campus. 
  • Adds a quarterly meeting for reviewing non-unit non-exempt positions on campus to identify positions that can be made into USA positions. 

Management’s Proposals 

• University General Proposal, Article 7  
  • Limit members ability to address discrimination by denying on-campus grievances when grievances have been filed with outside agencies 
• University Proposal 3: Article 14 Employee Compensation 
  • Outlines starting salaries for USA members coming from other unions in the UMass, state, and municipal systems 
• Withdrawing Proposal 5 
• University Proposal 6: Article 20 Reclassification Amendments  
  • A large proposal, further review and information from the Bargaining team forthcoming 
• University Proposal 7: Article 22 Layoff and Recall 
  • Shortens timelines in the layoff and recall process 
  • Limits members rights and protections  
  • Further review and information from the Bargaining team forthcoming 

Action Items 

• In-person USA Membership Meeting Thursday 11/14, 12-1 at the Student Union Cape Cod Lounge!  
• Come to the All Union Rally & Stroller Parade for Childcare Friday 11/1 at noon in front of the Student Union! 
• Keep an eye out for a UMass Unions United all-members coalition meeting in early November to discuss organizing a state-wide cost of living campaign 

October 9th, 2024

• Context for the bargaining process: We are currently receiving and reviewing management’s proposals, as well as preparing and presenting our proposals. We focus on our initial position in bargaining until all our proposals are on the table. Once everything is on the table from both sides, we’ll shift focus to countering and negotiating all proposals. 
• Management brought four proposals to present:  
  • Proposal #1: Article 8, Workweek and Work Schedules  
    • Management stated that their goal is to implement time clocks in Administration & Finance for USA members 
    • The proposal brought forward completely removes the current language and gives management the ability to implement time clocks across campus, not just for Administration & Finance USA members  
  • Proposal #2: Article 10, Sick Leave Bank (SLB) 
    • Set October as the official month for SLB donations and enrollment 
    • Limit member donations to SLB to 10 days per year 
    • Increase initial family leave from the SLB from 2 weeks to 4 weeks  
    • Note: USA Bargaining team has a comprehensive SLB proposal that will be presented in the future.  
  • Skipping Proposal #3, management will present this proposal at a later date 
  • Proposal #4: Article 17, Vacancies and Promotions 
    • Decrease period to apply internally to positions from 7 business days to 7 calendar days  
    • OR limit notifications of the vacancy to USA members in the Major Budgetary Unit (MBU) of the vacant position and accept applications for no less than 10 business days 
    • Additional info: This MBU promotion language would make it easier for USA members to get the position, but limits who could be considered to only USA members in the MBU. It also does not guarantee that the MBU will use the internal job posting process for USA positions. 
    • Seeks to limit the number of people who can grieve when bypassed for a position when they met qualifications and had seniority  
    • Seeks to remove employees’ right to grieve if they are returned to a position involuntarily after promotion 
  • General Proposal (management did not number this proposal) 
    • Change all pronouns to gender neutral ‘they’, which is a process that started during the last round of bargaining 
    • Change all mentions of “Form 30” to “position description”  
    • The USA Bargaining team will bring questions to management at the next meeting for further clarification on their proposals 
  • USA brought forth a proposal for Article 16, Health and Welfare  
    • Increase the employer’s contribution to the Health & Welfare Fund from $16.50 per week per full-time employee to $22.50 per week per full-time employee (These are the funds that pay for dental insurance) 
    • Ensure University would agree to facilitate and expedite the process of combining MTA Health & Welfare Fund with another fund, if that were to happen 
    • Management had no immediate questions but will follow-up at the next meeting 
    • Additional info: This Health and Welfare proposal is being brought to the table by MSP (Mass. Society of Professors) and several other Massachusetts Teachers Association Higher Ed locals. Bringing proposals to the bargaining table in coalition with other unions presents a unified front to management and strengthens our position at the table.
  • Action Items 
    • The next bargaining meeting with management is 10/23/24. Join us as a Silent Bargaining Representative! Fill out the SBR form here.  
    • If you were an SBR at the 10/9/24 meeting, please fill out the SBR feedback form.  
    • Contact Sheila Gilmour (sgilmour@umass.edu) to join a team organizing around the Kronos time clock issue (see Proposal #1 from management)

September 25th, 2024

• Accepted Ground Rules
• Moving into bargaining and exchanging proposals 

Further Reading:

• Contract Corner 1: Ground Rules and Silent Bargaining Representatives
• Membership Bargaining Survey: Nearly One Third of USA Members Struggle with Food Insecurity, Survey Reveals