2013-2015 PSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining Update
AAUP and PSU begin collective bargaining efforts
To improve transparency and keep the campus informed, the PSU bargaining team will post regular updates summarizing the issues and progress of negotiations. These updates will focus on specific issues discussed at the bargaining table.
PSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining: 5/21/2013
Representatives of Portland State University and the PSU Chapter of the AAUP met on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, to continue work on a new collective bargaining agreement for 2013-2015.
Representatives at this meeting discussed Article 27, Progressive Sanctions and Letters of Agreement #3, #4, and #5.
The parties signed tentative agreements to end Letters of Agreement #3, #4, and #5. The parties also agreed to extend the current Contract through November 30, 2013, to allow adequate time to negotiate a new agreement.
The University proposed revisions to Article 27 – Progressive Sanctions, meant to address the following:
• Clarifying roles of the parties involved in the disciplinary process;
• Updating language regarding suspension or disciplinary leave pending the outcome of an investigation or disciplinary process;
• Revising current practice by giving supervisors or deans the authority to manage discipline at the level of written reprimand or lower (the current agreement requires that a complaint be filed with the President or his designee in order for a written reprimand to be issued).
AAUP asked the University’s to clarify its position on removing contractual barriers that limit the Faculty Senate’s authority, relevant to establishing and maintaining peer review and evaluation policies and procedures.
The University restated its view that the Faculty Senate represents PSU faculty in the shared governance of the institution. As such, peer review and evaluation policies should originate from the Faculty Senate rather than the bargaining table. The University said that it is inappropriate for the union to exercise veto authority over the Faculty Senate regarding peer review and evaluation.
The University also reiterated that proposals for Articles 14 and 16 and portions of Articles 17 and 18 do retain the union’s ability to use the grievance and arbitration provisions of the collective bargaining agreement to protect a member’s procedural rights in such processes.
The next collective bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2013, from noon to 3 p.m. in Smith Union room 296. Articles to be discussed include:
• Article 17 – Academic Professional Faculty;
• Article 18 – Fixed-Term Instructional and Research Faculty;
• Article 34 – Library Faculty Development Days;
• Article 35 – Personnel Files;
• Article 36 – Outside Employment.
PSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining: 5/7/2013
On May 7, 2013, representatives of Portland State University and the Portland State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) met to continue work on a new collective bargaining agreement for 2013-2015.
Representatives at the meeting discussed contract articles related to peer review and evaluation: Article 14; Article 16; Article 17, Section 8; and, Article 18, Section 4.
The University proposed replacements to these contract articles, explaining that the establishment, maintenance, and modification of guidelines for promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review fall within the traditional role of the Faculty Senate.
The University supports the Faculty Senate’s role as the representative of the faculty in the shared governance of PSU, and thus intends to remove contractual barriers that limit the Faculty Senate’s authority in these areas.
The University’s proposal retains the union’s current role in assisting faculty members who believe that applicable guidelines have not been followed. Under this proposal, the union would retain the ability to file a grievance on behalf of a member alleging a violation of applicable guidelines for promotion and tenure and post-tenure review, or of guidelines relevant to fixed-term faculty or academic professional employees.
In response to questions from the union, the University said that it does not intend to alter the tenure timeline currently provided for in the Oregon Administrative Rules.
The next collective bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2013, from noon to 3 p.m. in Market Center Building room 651. Articles to be discussed in the next session include:
- Article 17 – Academic Professional Faculty;
- Article 18 – Fixed-Term Instructional and Research Faculty;
- Article 27 – Imposition of Progressive Sanctions;
- Letter of Agreement #3 – PSU and AAUP Workload Task Force;
- Letter of Agreement #4 – PSU and AAUP Task Force on Peer Review/Career Support for Research and Instructional Faculty; and
- Letter of Agreement #5 – Joint PSU and AAUP Task Force on Work/Life Balance Issues for Academic Professionals.
PSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining: 4/24/2013
On April 24, 2013, representatives of Portland State University and the Portland State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) met to begin work on a new collective bargaining agreement for 2013-2015.
The current agreement runs through August 31.
Carol Mack, Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and Leadership Development and bargaining team lead, made opening statements for the University.
She gave context to the current environment for higher education: declining state support, rising student debt, a state mandate to educate a greater percentage of Oregonians, pressures to develop new programs that serve the needs of students and industry, and the emergence of disruptive technologies in delivering education content for little to no cost.
Mack also spoke about the importance and value of shared governance with faculty, and the Faculty Senate’s key role in areas such as curriculum, methods of instruction, peer review, evaluation, and faculty status. She articulated the administration’s support for maintaining and strengthening this shared governance role of faculty, acting through the Faculty Senate.
Mack introduced the University’s guiding principles for collective bargaining, which include:
- Faculty members and Portland State University play a critical role in the governance of the University.
- The University is committed to maintaining and valuing the role of faculty, acting through the Faculty Senate, in the shared governance of the University, in order to continue to provide quality programs for students and continue to thrive as a University.
- The University is committed to sound and responsible fiscal stewardship and financial stability, balanced with student access and opportunity.
Mack cited a letter from the February 2012 accreditation letter to PSU, in which the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities recommended that it strengthen uneven policies and practices related to post-tenure review. These recommendations reflect areas of concern that, if not addressed, may lead to finding the University out of compliance on subsequent reviews.
The parties agreed to discuss the following articles at the next session:
- Article 14 – Promotion and Tenure;
- Article 16 – Institutional Career Support/Peer Review;
- Article 17 – Academic Professional Faculty; and,
- Article 18 – Fixed-Term Instructional and Research Faculty.
The next collective bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from noon to 3 p.m. in Smith Memorial Student Union room 294.
