Bargaining Update – More Bargaining in February!
12/13/2024
Dear Colleagues,
We have had 2 bargaining sessions since the last update we sent to you on November 8th. Here is a brief rundown of the most significant developments from the two sessions. It is important to note that none of these proposals represent the final word on what will ultimately get into the contract- there is still a long way to go and a lot will change between now and when we get a tentative agreement:
- NTT- Admin provided a counter to our NTT proposals. First, some good news: they agreed to provide university issued computers to all NTT with continuing appointments (though not to all NTT, as we had proposed). They also accepted our proposal to ensure that continuing appointments (that is, a contract without end date that guarantees work at a certain percentage of time) will be guaranteed for the member’s actual percentage of time. However, they rejected most of our NTT proposals, including the proposed elimination of the Associate Lecturer rank and subsequent conversion of Associate Lecturers to Lecturer. They also rejected our proposals to reduce the time required for eligibility for a continuing appointment.. Finally, admin proposed a new PMYR process for Senior Lecturer 3’s (details to come).
- Work Conditions- Admin seemed willing to consider our proposals on gender-neutral bathrooms and preferred names but they indicated that much of what we are seeking in these proposals is already being developed for implementation outside of the bargaining process. We remain engaged on this issue.
- Librarians- Admin accepted our proposed language to count paid leaves as creditable service time for continuing appointment and promotion and to reduce the time required to apply for promotion.
You can see all our proposals, as well as the Administration’s proposals here (the summary of the proposals can be seen here).
We noted in our last update that we’d give you a summary of some of our other proposals that we presented to admin (we summarized our proposals on salaries, promotional raises, and stipends; NTT; and work conditions in our last update). Here are a few of them (with more to come later):
- Recognizing Uncompensated Work - We proposed the accumulation of credits toward a CLR for the work we do with students individually, such as teaching independent studies, chairing a MA thesis or dissertation committee, etc. We also proposed formalizing CLRs in the contract for GPDs and undergraduate program directors.
- Supporting Assistant Professors - We proposed a true pre-tenure sabbatical by removing the service obligation Research Intensive Semester (currently, only teaching obligations are removed).
- Academic Freedom – We added language that clearly states we have academic freedom in our teaching.
So, what’s next? We expect to have a tentative agreement with the administration by the end of Spring 2025. We have agreed to weekly bargaining sessions with admin starting Wednesday, February 5th, 9:45-11:30. We need your help to get the strongest possible contract! Be part of bargaining by observing the sessions and giving us feedback about what you’re seeing (details on how to register to attend will be provided closer to the dates in question).
Sincerely,
The FSU Core Bargaining Team
Caroline Coscia, Senior Lecturer II, Political Science
Ellen Frank, Senior Lecturer II, Economics
Keith Jones, Lecturer, Africana Studies
Maria Hegbloom, MTA Field Representative
Jessica Holden, Librarian IV, Healey Library
Lorenzo Nencioli, FSU Senior Staff Member
Jason Rodriquez, Associate Professor, Sociology
Heike Schotten, Professor, Political Science
Steve Striffler, Professor, Labor Studies