EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Your UAOSU bargaining team met with the administration team and our state-appointed mediator on Tuesday, March 18 for our first mediation session. Unfortunately, after nine hours in mediation, we received a package from the administration team that did not include a proposal on Compensation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Fri 3/21 4-6pm, End of Term Happy Hour at Common Fields – You’re invited to the final “Odd Friday” happy hour of Winter Term. Members of the bargaining and contract action teams will be in attendance to answer questions about negotiations, share updates on mediation, and celebrate how much we accomplished together this term. All faculty are invited, and your first beverage is on us!
- Thursday, April 10, 4-5pm in Milam Hall 319 – Bargaining Town Hall & Mediation Update. More details to come soon!
FULL UPDATE
You may recall, at the end of our February 18 bargaining session we decided to file for mediation since our negotiations have stretched over a year and the administration team has repeatedly brought us the same proposals and refused to show meaningful movement even after repeated and extensive conversations about faculty needs and the problems with their proposals.
This past Tuesday was our first mediation session. It started with both parties meeting together with our mediator to review mediation procedures, the proposals that remain open for negotiation, and the key priorities for each party. Once again we made it clear that compensation is a major priority for faculty and that the Compensation proposal is intertwined with the other open proposals. After this discussion, we moved to our caucus rooms for separate discussions with the mediator. At this point the administration team indicated they were working on an economic package of proposals for our consideration.
Unfortunately, after nine hours, the package we received not only failed to show much movement to address outstanding issues, but it also did not include the promised proposal on Compensation.
Our next mediation session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 starting at 9:30am. We’re hopeful that the administration team will be ready to really dig in on economics at this session.
In spite of the lackluster mediation session this week, your union has had a busy and eventful Winter Term. Please join us this afternoon 4-6pm at Common Fields to celebrate the work we’ve accomplished together this term and the return of Spring. If you’re interested in hearing more about bargaining or catching up on the recent contract actions, we’ll have members of both the bargaining and contract action teams there to share updates and answer questions.
Stay tuned for more details on the Bargaining Town Halls and other opportunities to stay engaged with contraction negotiations.
Our power in negotiations comes from all of us working together as a united faculty. Becoming a member is the first step in supporting your bargaining team and securing a strong second contract. You can become a member online by going to uaosu.org/join.
In solidarity,
Marisa Chappell and Your Bargaining Team