On Jan. 14, the University met with the Union to continue negotiations for an initial collective bargaining agreement. During this session, the University presented a package counter proposal on Leaves, Performance Improvement Plans, and Compensation. The University made significant moves on Compensation including; increasing the ratification payment percentage, providing faculty bargaining unit members with lump sum payments, and increasing each members’ base salary after ratification of the agreement.

The University also presented another package counter proposal on Financial Exigency, Appointment, Renewal and Promotion of TCPL Faculty, and Faculty Evaluations. In an effort to reach agreement through its package proposal, the University removed periodic career review from the proposed Faculty Evaluations article to come closer to the Union’s proposal.   

Additionally, the University presented a package counter proposal on Management Rights, Association Rights, Intellectual Property, with the continued withdrawal of the Union’s proposal on Shared Governance. Again, the parties are in agreement on the language in both Management Rights and Intellectual Property. Finally, the University presented a proposal on Benefits.

The Union then presented a package counter proposal on Management Rights, Association Rights, and Intellectual Property. The Union accepted the University’s language related to workload equivalencies for service credit, but continued to reject the University’s language related to the Ohio Ethics Commission’s “Revolving Door Law.”

Prior to Tuesday’s bargaining session, the Union had filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the University for proposing language from the Ohio Ethics Laws around confidentiality and representative capacity in a counter proposal on Association Rights during the last negotiating session. The University incorporated provisions of the Ohio Ethics Law (O.R.C. 102.03), commonly referred to as the “Revolving Door Law,” to provide transparency regarding confidentiality and representative capacity relating to former administrators who return to the faculty unit. As the University shared with the Union, this proposal did not intend to preclude the former administrators from being members of FAM or from engaging in activities that fall outside the scope of the Ohio Ethics Law restrictions.

Miami is confident that its proposals and counter proposals do not violate the rights of bargaining unit employees or include illegal topics. We look forward to a resolution of this matter in accordance with the process outlined by SERB, while continuing to bargain on substantive issues.

Towards the end of day, the Union presented a package counter proposal on Leaves and Compensation as well as a proposal on Benefits.

The University looks forward to reaching an agreement with the Union as soon as practicable and will continue to negotiate in good faith with the Union until the parties ultimately reach an agreement that acknowledges the dedication of our faculty members while maintaining the obligations to our students and educational mission.

The parties will meet again in person on Feb. 12 and Feb. 24.

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