ACT-UAW – Part-Time Faculty Successor Contract Negotiations Update: Session #11
On October 6, 2022, the university participated in its 11th bargaining session with ACT-UAW, Local 7902. While it had been the university’s desire to adjourn this session to allow for members of both teams to observe Yom Kippur without impacting either team’s ability to prepare for bargaining, the union insisted on meeting. In a showing of good faith and to allow for the union to present any further information to help advance these negotiations, members of the university’s bargaining team met with the union.
The union opened the session with a testimonial from one of its members. The part-time faculty member shared concerns about her compensation. After the union indicated that they did not have anything further to add to the session, the university spokesperson took the opportunity to clarify a few open items that would help inform the university’s preparations towards making a fulsome response to the union’s proposals. When asked if the union had performed any cost analyses for its economic documents, the union spokesperson responded that they had nothing to share. Furthermore, when asked if the union had given more thought to the contact term, (as they indicated they were going to do in the last session), the union spokesperson stated that they did not have a response. The university highlighted that the union’s position on the length of this successor agreement plays a pivotal role in determining the university’s financial package. Despite sharing this rationale, the union again failed to take any position on the contract term.
As noted before, the university will continue to evaluate the union’s proposals and present a comprehensive response to the union’s proposals. The university looks forward to bargaining for three consecutive full days on October 12th, 13th, and 14th, to work towards reaching agreement on a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement, consistent with past practice.