The University and the Union continued negotiations on Feb. 12 at the Hamilton campus, focusing on key topics such as Leaves, Compensation, Benefits, Financial Exigency, and TCPL Appointments. Both sides made counter proposals, with the University addressing concerns about salary increases and reassignment options in cases of program elimination. The University believes it made significant moves to reach an agreement during the session, however, the Union added additional compensation demands and removed previously agreed-upon language, which created the need for continued discussion.

During the bargaining session, the University presented a package counter proposal on Leaves, Performance Improvement Plans, Compensation, and Benefits. The parties continue to be aligned on the language in Performance Improvement Plans. The University’s Compensation proposal sought to address the Union’s concerns related​ to the ratification and lump sum payments by providing percentage increases to the base salaries of bargaining unit members.  At the Union’s request, the University also provided an example of these increases in a hypothetical scenario.

The Union presented a package counter proposal on Financial Exigency and Academic Reorganization, Appointment, Renewal, and Promotion of TCPL Faculty, Faculty Evaluations, and Performance Improvement Plans. The Union expressed that its main concern with the University’s proposal on Financial Exigency and Academic Reorganization was the University’s language related to tenured faculty members being subject to termination for program elimination, and that it was not as concerned with the language related to division or department elimination. Additionally, in the Union’s Appointment, Renewal, and Promotion of TCPL Faculty proposal, the Union outlined reasons for TCPL faculty to be nonrenewed. However, the reasons provided clearly fall within the University’s ability to simply terminate under just cause standards.

The University also provided a package counter proposal to the Union on Financial Exigency and Academic Reorganization, Appointment, Renewal, and Promotion to TCPL Faculty, Faculty Evaluations as well as the addition of Performance Improvement Plans to this package. To address the Union’s concerns related to program elimination in the Financial Exigency and Academic Reorganization Proposal, the University reminded the Union that there is a provision included within the proposal that requires the University to make good faith efforts to reassign faculty members who are subject to termination under this proposal in lieu of termination.  Additionally, the University explained that when the Department of Comparative Religion was eliminated, and went through the required Senate process, the University worked diligently to reassign all faculty members to different divisions and departments without terminating anyone. The University also made a significant move in its Appointment, Renewal, and Promotion of TCPL Faculty proposal by giving Senior and Full TCPL faculty presumptive renewal. 

The Union, on the other hand, presented another package counter proposal on Leaves, Compensation, and Benefits that did not make much movement as the proposal actually added additional layers of compensation upon ratification, including a ratification bonus. This move by the Union did not illustrate its repeated claims that the Union wishes to come to an agreement as soon as possible, and in fact, appears to create additional delays in reaching an agreement.  Moreover, the Union made an arguably regressive move by deleting language that it had previously agreed to—and which was provided by the University as a benefit to the faculty members. 

Again, since the outset of these negotiations, the University has remained committed to negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement with the Union and the University continues to provide proposals that demonstrate this commitment. 

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

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