Bargaining Session: August 8, 2019

On August 8, 2019, representatives of the University attended the thirteenth bargaining session with the union committee that represents post-docs and ARSs.

To address the union committee’s concerns expressed during the last session, the University presented a revised Employment Files proposal incorporating from the Union’s proposal a mechanism for an employee to respond to information in the file. The University’s revised proposal provided that if an employee disagrees with information in the employment file, the employee may submit a written statement commenting upon the information. The union committee also presented a revised Employment Files proposal that continued to reflect its changed demand that the University remove warning letters evidencing proven disciplinary action after just 2 years, rather than 3 years. The revised proposal also added a requirement that the University provide each Postdoctoral Research Scientist/Scholar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Associate Research Scientist/Scholar with a copy of their entire employment file 30 days prior to the end of their appointment, whether or not requested by the employee, as a mechanism for effectively sealing the file. No tentative agreement was reached.

The parties each presented revised Recognition proposals and continued to discuss their different positions regarding whether Postdoctoral Research Fellows paid directly from external funding sources who are not on the University payroll for any portion of their pay are included in the unit even though they are not considered employees for IRS tax purposes. The union demanded that they must be included.

The parties also discussed the union committee’s proposal on Intellectual Property, and the University reiterated its position that the issues are already covered by the various provisions of the University’s existing policies. The University emphasized that the union committee’s proposal interferes with the University’s exclusive right to manage the institution consistent with its research mission under the Framework Agreement.

In addition, the parties continued their discussion of the provision in the union committee’s Discipline and Dismissal proposal requiring a pre-disciplinary hearing and the existing University grievance procedures. The existing procedures for Officers of Research that apply to complaints regarding disciplinary action and dismissal generally provide for a formal hearing prior to salary discontinuation and termination of an appointment.

The next meeting is scheduled for August 15,2019.