Bargaining Update June 5, 2024
The University and Union bargaining committees met on June 5, 2024, to continue negotiations for an initial faculty contract.
The University and the Faculty Union met on June 5, 2024, for collective bargaining negotiations. At the start of the bargaining session, the Union accepted the University’s May 22, 2024 counter proposals on Outside Employment and Professional Activities and Appointments. With the Union’s acceptance of these proposals, the parties now have tentative agreements on these articles. The Union also presented a counter proposal on Grievance and Arbitration.
The University presented a counter proposal on Faculty Evaluations and a new proposal on Performance Improvement Plans. The language of the University’s new Performance Improvement Plans proposal was previously included in its Faculty Evaluations proposal. The University presented language related to performance improvement plans as a standalone proposal to clearly articulate when and how a performance improvement plan would apply to bargaining unit faculty members.
The University also presented a revised Memorandum of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence, which the Union accepted. The University’s revised MOU on Artificial Intelligence will permit the parties to discuss a process for reviewing the impact of Artificial Intelligence on bargaining unit faculty members at the parties’ Labor Management meetings. The parties may also agree to propose guidelines for consideration by the administration regarding the use of specific programs or tools that use AI.
The parties' next bargaining session is scheduled for June 17, 2024 at Wilks Conference Center.