Bargaining Session Report
The two sides met Friday, July 30th.
The back-and-forth over the package proposal, first put on the table by Oakland, continued with Oakland submitting a counter to what we proposed last session. Their latest version represents little change from their previous positions on the teaching of credit courses by graduate students, procedures for when a faculty member is removed or barred from campus, and the number of full-time adjunct faculty positions allowed. There are some areas where the two sides have come together, such as language for joint appointments and the list of arbitrators for tenure grievances, but these areas of agreement are currently tied to resolving the larger package. During the session we presented a counter to (1) insure that decisions on removal from campus will be grievable and (2) reiterate our proposal expressing the allowable numbers of full-time adjuncts as percentages of tenure-track faculty in each school or college but with an added provision allowing Oakland and the Association to negotiate increases in full-time adjunct (or professor of practice) positions, if necessary, to accommodate the creation of new programs.
Oakland also presented a new counter on Article X in the area of workload policy review. Their latest version lacked any substantial change from their previous proposal and, most importantly, still diminishes current faculty rights.
At the end of the meeting Oakland submitted a proposal on Article VIII, Layoff and Recall. We will be reviewing it and responding at a later date.
Oakland has still not provided any response to our economic package which we put on the table on July 22nd. Although there are several important noneconomic items still on the table, the two sides can also start working on the economic issues. We are fully capable of bargaining on both the language and economic items that are on the table at the same time.
The two sides are scheduled to meet again Wednesday, August 4th.