Understanding the Union Contract

Presenters: Vagrant Cascadian, Elizabeth Swager Date: Tue Feb 21 2012

The contract was proposed and voted on by BU Staff in July 2011

$UNION == Communication Workers of America


 * Article One - Recognition, Responsibility and Respect
 * Defines who is and who isn't in the Bargaining Unit
 * Frames spirit of interactions, focused on mutual respect


 * Article Two - Management Rights
 * Defines management rights and what is or isn't bargained for
 * Changes can be made to the contract if both parties (Mgmt & BU) agree to reopen negotiations


 * Article Three - Committees
 * Defines requirements for participation in committees
 * Participation in committees unrelated to job description is determined by DPPs


 * Article Four - Categories
 * Defines worker categories
 * All staff job descriptions need to fit under the categories listed here; otherwise negotiations need to be reopened
 * Management Track Opportunity?


 * Article Five - Shifts and Vacancies
 * Defines standard work week, breaks, and schedule postings
 * Schedules are posted by Wednesday, one week in advance
 * Schedule changes can occur last minute to account for absences if announcements/notifications are made to affected parties
 * Coming in on scheduled half days?
 * Provisions to refuse last minute schedule change?
 * Add to negotiations
 * Interim policy in the meantime
 * Job vacancies are posted to BU staff before being publicly posted
 * Timeline?


 * Article Six - Administrative Time
 * Defines admin time requirements
 * Full-time = 2.5 hrs/week
 * Part-time = 1.5 hrs/week
 * Requests for more admin time are to be submitted to management (DPPs or other staff)
 * Admin time taken to cover floor shifts?
 * Over time can be taken to fit in admin time
 * Scheduled overtime should not happen (with rare exceptions)
 * If it happens, notify management/schedulers/DPPs
 * What is admin time?
 * Broad definition is offered
 * Checking e-mail/correspondence
 * Documentation
 * Committee work?
 * If scheduled admin time is not sufficient, submit schedule request or speak with management


 * Article Seven - Seniority
 * Defines metric for seniority
 * Applies to all job descriptions, excepting Collective positions


 * Article Eight - Training and Moves
 * Defines trainings and corresponding logistics, and moving to new work areas
 * Requests to new work areas are submitted to DPPs, who will respond within two weeks from date of request
 * Denials require a stated reason


 * Article Nine - Holidays
 * Defines paid holidays and rules for their implementation in the schedule
 * NPAs, Temps, and Regular workers are offered paid holidays


 * Article Ten - PTO
 * Defines rates of accrual for PTO, and procedures for requesting PTO


 * Article Eleven - Wages
 * Defines wages and raises based on seniority,
 * Management reserves the right to offer bonuses with notice to the union
 * Wage Re-openers can be brought to the table up to 5 weeks before the anniversary of the effective date of the CBA


 * Article Twelve - Benefits
 * Defines benefits package
 * Investment committee?


 * Article Thirteen - Discipline and Discharge
 * Defines discipline and discharge procedures
 * Discipline and discharge occurs With Cause (stated reason)


 * Article Fourteen - Union Security
 * Defines notice of Union in job postings, closed shop


 * Article Fifteen - Payment of Union Dues
 * Defines procedures for paying Union dues


 * Article Sixteen - Union Representation
 * Defines Union Representation and roles of Union Stewards


 * Article Seventeen - Right of Employee to Union Representation
 * Defines right of Union Representation
 * All BU staff are afforded the right to representation during disciplinary/investigatory meetings
 * Can be stewards, coworkers, or any outside party


 * Article Eighteen - Grievance Procedure and Arbitration
 * Defines Grievance Procedure and Arbitration in the event that the CBA is breached or unfair labor practices
 * Phase 0 - Informal notice (Communication!)
 * Phase 1 - Manager (Response within 10 days)
 * Phase 2 - DPP (Response within 10 days)
 * Phase 3 - Board appoints Grievance Designee (Response within 10 days)
 * Phase 4 - Arbitration
 * What constitutes a formal grievance to necessitate invoking Article 18?
 * Burden of responsibility for invoking Article 18? Implicit?  Explicit?


 * Article Nineteen - Federal, State and Local Laws
 * States that any part of the contract that may be in conflict with Federal, State, or Municipal laws will not void other parts of the contract that are compliant.


 * Article Twenty - Non-discrimination
 * Defines non-discrimination provisions


 * Article Twenty-One - Layoffs
 * Defines downsizing and layoff procedures
 * Management reserves the right to determine which areas should be affect by layoffs, and BU staff seniority determines which workers are subject to layoff
 * Laid off employees can be put on a Recall list in the event that organization has openings available again for which the employee is qualified


 * Article Twenty-Two - Amendments
 * Defines procedures for implementing amendments


 * Article Twenty-Three - Workplace Safety Advisory Committee
 * Defines role and necessity of Workplace Safety Advisory Committee
 * BU can select two representatives to this committee, outside of


 * Article Twenty-Four -- Performance Reviews
 * Mandates worker Job Descriptions, Evaluations, and Evaluation Process


 * Article Twenty-Five - Calculation of Hours
 * Defines standard weekly hours and calculation of hours


 * Article Twenty-Six - Duration
 * Defines the length of the contract (2 years)
 * Effective date: 20 July 2011