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