Bargaining continues with management – we met with them on Thursday and Friday of last week late into the day.
We are frustrated and angry with how they are approaching this contract. Not only did management not offer anything new or good in their proposals, they also added insult to injury by proposing additional takeaways to do away with discrimination protections and make it harder for workers to become members of our union and have access to their union representatives.
This won’t do – management needs to stop being anti-union and take us seriously. Together, we have immense power and can make a difference at the bargaining table by standing together. Be ready to rally BIG on Tuesday, June 30, when we gather at university campuses statewide to show we mean business about winning a great contract!
Here is a rundown of what happened at the table:
Union countered on these issues:
Articles 54 (Computer Workstations) - intent is to limit covert surveillance of workers.
Article 57 (Uniforms, Protective Clothing and Tools) - intent is to expand access to protective gear and maintenance of tools. We also proposed a new section affirming workers' rights to wear union gear, such as symbols, clothing and more.
We reached our first TA: Article 59 (Technological Change/Retraining) – where we strengthened notification language around anticipated technological changes.
Issues Management countered on:
Article 10 (Union Rights). They rejected Union proposals around new employee orientations, steward allocation and steward representation. Additionally, they proposed several takeaways in union rights, including organizer access, suspension of organizer rights, and blocking university email access during strikes.
Management also rejected the following:
- Our proposal on Article 15 (Parking) that would have made parking more accessible and affordable for workers.
- Our proposal to update Article 28 (Affirmative Action) and instead they proposed to completely eliminate this article.
- Our proposal on Article 19 (No Discrimination) that would have increased protections for vulnerable workers and provided for specially trained stewards to handle cases on discrimination. They also minimized such cases by proposing to send grievances to HR rather than the University President.
On our second day, we countered with a package rejecting five takeaway proposals from management that would have weakened existing contract rights around bereavement, sick leave, insurance, overtime and contracting out.
Our next open session will be at OSU-Corvallis on June 29-30 when we will be countering on economics. Keep your eyes peeled for a registration link coming soon!
Here’s what else you can do to help bargaining now.
Share your story with us – how would a 0% COLA over the next four years affect you and your family? Management is proposing nothing in raises through the end of the next contract – the year 2030 – what would that mean for you? Tell us by clicking here.
Let’s keep building worker power – there is a lot for us to continue to do to organize!