Bargaining Session 04/11/2024

This past bargaining session was focused primarily on 4 articles the updates for each are detailed below. If you are interested in more detail please check out our youtube for the full session recording!

Article 8 - Leaves of Absence
UF’s proposal added the option of unpaid leave for internships related to a GA’s academic program.  GAU will request the addition of paid bereavement leave to our contract in the next counterproposal. 
Article 3 - Consultation
UF removed GAU proposal language that would allow the union to request a meeting with the university president under special circumstances. The provision to request a consultation with the president already exists but the current language allows the president to appoint a designee instead. GAU’s previous proposal defined special circumstances under which GAU could request a consultation, in which the president could not appoint a designee and would be obligated to meet with the union directly.
Article 16 - Use of Facilities
UF wants to eliminate the Release-Time (RT) positions from our bargaining contract, in which GA’s can be released from their normal duties to work for the union. These positions have existed since the union got bargaining rights (since the creation of our collective bargaining agreement). UF claims these positions are no longer in the interest of the university, however discussion made it clear that the UF team is not fully aware of the purpose of the RT position and what it exists to do. All Florida graduate assistant and faculty unions have these positions in their contract as they are essential for enforcement of the contract, which is a joint responsibility of the union and the employer. For this reason, these positions are included in other contracts because they benefit the university as well. UF has not adequately explained its sudden change in position on this article after multiple proposals had already been exchanged.
Article 9 - Academic Freedom
UF’s latest proposal kept many of the new provisions proposed by GAU. However, their proposal struck out a proposal that would specifically protect a GA’s right to discuss pertinent subjects in the classroom that students might find controversial as well as a proposal protecting GAs from employment-related consequences due to speech and political activity outside the university.