The University met to continue its good faith negotiations with the faculty union on Oct. 18, 2023. Over these first four bargaining sessions, the University has provided the faculty union with 12 proposals and several counter proposals for consideration in an initial agreement.

Prior to presenting proposals, the University clarified its position regarding the All-University Faculty Committee for the Evaluation of Administrators, in response to statements by the Union at the Sept. 26, 2023, bargaining session that pausing the Committee was not consistent with the status quo. The University reiterated that:

• Its legal obligation to maintain the status quo extends only to employees in the bargaining unit for whom negotiations are currently ongoing.
• Status quo does not apply to the terms and conditions of employment for administrators, including evaluation procedures for managerial employees as well as employees in existing bargaining units at the University.
• Continuing the activities of the Committee for Evaluation of Administrators could potentially result in unlawful direct dealing.

Additionally, the University informed the Union that during the Miami University Board of Trustees public meeting on Sept. 27, consistent with its authority, the Board of Trustees passed a Resolution ratifying the Provost's Aug. 11 communication pausing the Committee. Lastly, the Union previously asked whether the administration would continue to evaluate faculty, and the University confirmed during the bargaining session that it will continue to evaluate faculty consistent with the status quo, as required by law.

Additionally, the parties exchanged a number of counter proposals as well as new proposals. The Union presented counter proposals on Appointments and introduced new proposals on Association Rights and Shared Governance. As a counterpart to its Shared Governance proposal, the Union proposed a Memorandum of Understanding that would seek to modify the Ohio Revised Code and composition of the Board of Trustees to add additional Board members from the faculty ranks who would be elected by the Faculty Assembly.

The University responded with counter proposals on Appointments and Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment, and presented new proposals on Appointments, Renewals, and Promotion of TCPL Faculty and Management Rights. The parties also exchanged multiple counter proposals on Labor-Management Meetings and appear close to reaching a Tentative Agreement on this article.

The parties engaged in robust discussion regarding the role of shared governance at the University, in conjunction with AAUP-AFT's representation of the faculty. The University communicated its position that shared governance is not a mandatory subject of bargaining, and that the University intends to maintain its managerial rights under O.R.C. Section 4117.08.

The Union also proposed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding service credit and course releases for union activities.

The University continues to engage in good faith bargaining on matters related to the terms and conditions of employment of bargaining unit faculty members. The University and the Union are scheduled to meet next on Oct. 25, Nov. 1, and Nov. 15, 2023 at the Wilks Conference Center on Miami's Hamilton campus.

Back to Updates