NEIUPI

The administrative team finally passed a proposal that addressed workload and compensation. We met for approximately two hours this morning and during that time engaged in a preliminary review of their proposal.

The UPI team will meet early next week to discuss the ramifications of the administrative proposal on workload and other conditions of employment for bargaining unit members. Our next negotiations session is scheduled for next Wednesday, July 7. Stay tuned.

The Board of Trustees meeting held on June 10 was well attended by faculty and staff. Several bargaining unit members and chairs expressed their concerns about the protracted state of negotiations. Ellie Sullivan, Local 4100 President, advised the NEIU trustees that two contract negotiations, GSU and WIU, had been initiated and successfully concluded during the two years we have been negotiated. Trustees were given a packet of information that contained a summary of progress to date as well as the two year chronology. The trustees listened and following an executive session issued a statement supporting the timely resolution of the NEIU negotiations.

The following day, the NEIU and the administrative teams continued negotiations at the Local 4100 UPI office located in downtown Chicago. During that meeting a tentative agreement was reached on Article 19: Compensable Fringe Benefits. This article will contain language that provides for a sick leave bank and the option of paid Parental Leave for employees upon the birth or adoption of a child. The paid leave is in addition to the leave that can be requested under FMLA and extended child care leave.

More details about BOT and negotiations to follow.

Thanks again to all who attended the BOT meeting and demonstrated our commitment to the NEIU community.

UPDATE: View photos of the meeting taken by Mary Durkin, Direction of Communications, UPI

Please encourage all of your colleagues to attend the Board of trustees meeting on June 10. It will be held on campus in the Golden Eagles room at 2 pm. Ellie Sullivan will address the trustees as will other members of the bargaining unit. It is imperative that as many of us as possible show up. The Trustees and the President need to be convinced that all of us are concerned about the delay in bargaining. Individuals need to do nothing more than walk into the room and fill the space. If others want to address the board they may do so.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the meeting.

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Many of you have inquired about the June 10 Board of Trustees meeting. It begins at 2 pm and is held in the Golden Eagles room. As you know, some of the trustees have encouraged us to attend following the receipt of letters about the ongoing contract negotiations. Ellie Sullivan, Local 4100 President, has requested the opportunity to address the trustees. Please see the BOT agenda.

For those of you interested in sharing your concerns about negotiations or any other topic, there is an opportunity to speak during the public comment period of the meeting. To ensure that you will be permitted to speak, contact Mimi Crespo, Board Liaison, by email (m-crespo1@neiu.edu). Ms. Crespo has advised the UPI that Walter Ducycz, Board Chair, would like everyone to have an opportunity to speak and therefore is placing a 2-minute time limit on each person. It is not clear if members of the NEIU community will be allowed to address the board without previously contacting Ms. Crespo.

You also may read President Hahs’ report to the trustees. Included in the report is the result of the survey conducted by the Doctoral Education Review Committee which reflects a strong response to the possibility of developing doctoral programs at NEIU.

Allen Shub has advised me that the majority of us who are eligible for overload will receive it in the June 15 payroll. Should there be a problem with your overload contact Allen Shub as the contract administrator and copy me so I am aware that there is a problem.

Please find attached a letter from AFSCME Local 1989 to the NEIU Board of Trustees that voices its members support of UPI in their contract negotiations. I am sure we all appreciate this show of support from our university colleagues. AFSCME will enter its own negotiations with the administration this year.