Above: A sea of purple "invisible faculty" signs as PSC members pack the gallery at the Jan. 24 B.O.T. monthly meeting.

JANUARY 24,
2005 UPDATE

The PSC and University management held three negotiating sessions during the week of January 10th, each one attended by rank-and-file members of the union. The PSC is pressing hard for a settlement and discussions are moving more quickly, but we are still far from agreement. Our approach has been to
present proposals and counterproposals on specific areas in order to work toward resolution and secure a fair economic settlement. Discussion at the sessions centered on: the needs of the Welfare Fund, proposals for employees in the Higher Education Officer series, and contractual issues concerning fair salaries, decent working conditions and recognition for adjuncts.

Management indicated an unwillingness to accept the major proposals on adjuncts, responded that increased Welfare Fund contributions will have to come at the expense of salary increases, engaged in proposals/ counterproposals on HEO issues and has still made no improvement in the financial offer.

Bargaining continued during the week of January 17; an update on these sessions will follow shortly.

JANUARY 5,
2005 UPDATE

A January of intensive contract negotiations began with two collective bargaining sessions this week: on Tuesday, January 4 and Wednesday, January 5. At both, rank-and-file observers were present.

January 4 Session

The PSC opened by giving a brief account of the membership's reaction to the economic offer made by management on December 1, emphasizing our seriousness about reaching a fair settlement.

The bulk of the session concerned two areas that had been under discussion before the holiday break. First, we presented a financial proposal on the amounts needed to stabilize the Welfare Fund and enhance the dental benefit. In the second area of discussion, we rejected management's demands to diminish HEO job security and said we could not accept demands that would reduce it.

January 5 Session

On Wednesday, the bargaining session again focused on issues related to members in the HEO series, including proposals on the need for equity among faculty counselors. We also presented a comprehensive counterproposal covering all of the remaining HEO issues on both the union and management sides. Collective bargaining resumes with three sessions next week: January 11, 12 and 14.

Barbara Bowen

PSC President

Add your voice of protest about management's economic offer by sending the Contract Now! letter from this website by clicking here. The letters make a difference.

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