Furloughs, Parking, Increasing Course Caps? Bargaining Update

8/20/2020

Dear FSU Members, 

We just finished our second main table bargaining session, the agenda for which was that administration would respond to the FSU’s proposals (detailed below our signature) and present proposals of their own. 

Despite having had over a month to prepare, however, administration did not in fact have any proposals to offer.  As well, they were largely dismissive, without substantial engagement or discussion, of the FSU’s proposals. 

They then cancelled our next scheduled bargaining session, a date they themselves had proposed and which was finalized a month ago. 

Admin did, however, provide a preview of which areas (with no details) their future proposals will cover:   

1. Parking (yes, you read that correctly) 
2. Furloughs (they’d like to spread this around beyond the administrative level) 
3. “Course capacity” (no sense of what this means or pertains to) 
4. Distance learning (see #3) 

It is difficult not to conclude that Admin is contemplating proposals to increase parking rates, increase course sizes, ask for faculty/librarian furloughs, and change contract language about distance learning.  But we have no concrete details. 

We invite you to attend our next bargaining session (whenever that may be!).   

You may recall that the CBT won expanded bargaining, which means that 30 FSU members can attend bargaining sessions and “watch” them as an audience, just like you would attend an online webinar.  We think it is really important for our members to see administration in (in)action during these sessions.  As well, it builds power to have our membership beside us in this process.  Finally, during the many “caucus” periods (i.e., private de-briefings) that come up during bargaining, we can confer with you and discuss what is happening and get your opinions and advice about how best to proceed. 

We’ll send details and an invitation to bargaining as soon as it is scheduled. 

In the meantime, stay safe, good luck with course preparation, and stay in touch.   

Sincerely, and in solidarity, 

Core Bargaining Team: 

Caroline Coscia, Senior Lecturer II, Political Science, FSU Vice President 

Katie D’Urso, MTA Field Representative 

Jessica Holden, Librarian III, Healey Library 

Maria Mellone, Associate Lecturer, Mathematics 

Alex Mueller, Associate Professor, English 

Lorenzo Nencioli, FSU Membership Coordinator 

Jason Rodriquez, Associate Professor, Sociology 

Heike Schotten, Associate Professor, Political Science 

Steve Striffler, Director of the Labor Resource Center and Professor, Anthropology, FSU President 

Tony Vandermeer, Senior Lecturer II, Africana Studies  

FSU Proposals (submitted July 10^th) 

1. 2-2 teaching load for all TT faculty 
2. 3-3 Teaching Load for all NTT faculty  
3. No course cancellations 
4. Implement the recommendations of the Alternative Scheduling Taskforce (see attached).  
5. Re: the $1000 FSU Travel Fund: 
   
   1. Expand eligibility to all bargaining unit members (TT faculty, NTT faculty, librarians, etc.) and ensure sufficient funds to cover this expansion.   
   2. During semesters in which Covid-19 travel restrictions are in place, allow the Travel Fund to reimburse any expenditure that contributed to the research, scholarship, and/or creative activity of the bargaining unit member.