Bargaining Update (04/25/24)

If you are interested in more detail please check out our youtube for the full session recording!

UF brought forth Article 23 (Totality of Agreement) with minor changes. They added a reference to Article 25 and modified a reference to Article 28. This was the only proposal UF presented this session. They plan to come back to Article 28 next week and plan to bring an Article 12, Health Insurance proposal next session, though they are not positive this will happen.

GAU brought forth changes in Articles 3, 4, 8 and 9.

Article 3 (Consultation) - 
GAU presented a proposal that holds firm on our position that the union should be able to meet with the University President when a decision may impact our employment conditions. GAU clarified that this is not to bargain but to share perspectives. The provision to meet with the president is already in the contract, but the current contract allows the president to appoint a designee to meet with us. We are trying to establish limited circumstances in which GAU could demand a meeting with a president and not a designee.

Article 4 (Appointments, Reappointments and Terminations) - 
GAU spent the most time this session with Article 4. They proposed some minor language changes, and accepted a few of UF’s strikeouts. Most significantly, GAU reworked the language of this article to create rules for all terminations and non-renewal of appoints to be treated the same, and added in protections where PIPs (Personal Improvement Plans) are required for non-renewal/termination for performance and set distinct timelines for them. The reasons for non-renewal and termination were also consolidated.

UF debated with GAU the most over their reinsertion of a severance provision, which would be required if a GA is being terminated/non-renewed due to no fault of their own. UF’s position is that if the GA is getting paid they should be working until the last day of pay. GAU emphasizes that this would not give GA’s time to search for a new position, and deal with their affairs.

Article 8 (Leaves of Absence) -
 GAU added bereavement leave as a form of paid leave. With the proposed language a GA could take up to the full 8 weeks for bereavement and there was some discussion around the issue of time allowed for this form of leave. A GA attending the bargaining session shared her personal experience to speak on the importance of bereavement leave, especially for international students that must travel far. UF agreed to include some form of bereavement leave but will likely not allow the current language to stand as is.

Article 9 (Academic Freedom) -
​Lastly, GAU made some minor changes to Article 9, reinserting a clauses regarding a GA’s right to academic freedom in the classroom and in their research as well as a GA’s right to speak freely and engage in political activity outside the university without fear of institutional repression. GAU also added language that would specifically allow GA’s to prohibit recording of class discussion, as protection against laws like HB7