Bargaining Session Report
At the August 12th meeting, we began by presenting responses to major items on the table.
On the language package proposal, we offered to accept the current version put on the table by Oakland with the addition of language that protects special lectures from loss of status when courses are changed from four credits to three. This would have settled a major part of bargaining and given Oakland many things it has asked for, but they refused to agree to this compromise.
In terms of economics, we put a two-year economic agreement on the table. Oakland has taken an extreme position on compensation, and is using the uncertainties of this moment as one of their justifications for doing so. Given their position, a longer term agreement is not a reasonable solution. Our latest proposal includes concessions on market adjustment and travel. At the end of the session Oakland provided a counter. We have not fully reviewed it, but it appears to represent inadequate movement from their opening position.
Oakland submitted a counter on workload policy review but it still has the same fundamental problems with regards to shared governance and academic freedom as their previous versions. We responded that it was unacceptable and our last counter is still our position.
Late in the session Oakland presented a revised proposal on layoff. They are still seeking broad discretion to initiate layoffs and to cut the support for faculty who are laid off.
Our current agreement ends at midnight this Saturday, August 14th. At the end of Thursday’s bargaining session we proposed, and Oakland agreed to, a one-week extension of the current agreement. Therefore our current agreement now expires at midnight on August 21. We also agreed to continue meeting next week. The two sides are scheduled to meet again Monday, August 16th.