LEO-GLAM Bargaining Recap for 3/26/2025
Our March 26th bargaining session was a full and busy day back on Zoom.
In the morning we presented our counter on Article XII: Promotion. Our goal was to continue to add clarity to the process and to reduce the minimum number of years in rank. Our conversations at the table were productive, and both sides expressed a sincere desire to reach agreement on this article given its importance to both members and management. While we haven’t reached the finish line yet, we are getting closer.
Management presented counters on Article XI: Appointments, as well as on our new (and thus unnumbered) articles on Artificial Intelligence and Security and Surveillance. In returning Article XI to us, the Employer rejected our March 12 package in which we included this article with Article I: Recognition and an MOU on adding Research Museum Collection Managers to our bargaining unit. We had a lengthy conversation at the table regarding term appointments in order to understand the Employer’s interest in proposing to both raise the cap on the percentage of term appointments and exempt certain kinds of term appointments from that cap. We continue to have concerns about this, as limiting the number of term appointments was a big win in our first contract.
Management’s counters on AI and Security and Surveillance reverted back to their proposed language from their prior passes in previous weeks. On AI, this meant the Employer was giving us back an article with all of our proposed language struck out. In its place was an offer to meet with us for one hour per year to discuss a limited range of topics related to artificial intelligence. On Security and Surveillance, the Employer again gave us a counter with everything struck out. We found both of these counters disappointing.
In addition to the counters noted above, the Employer reopened our tentative agreement on Article XXXI: Accessibility and Accommodations. Management noted that this was necessary because the Trump administration issued an executive order which has resulted in the University rescinding SPG 201.82, which is mentioned in Article XXXI. While this is a frustrating situation for all involved, we appreciate the care and candor management has taken in fulfilling their obligations.
As you can see via our public tracker, the number of articles still on the table is small, and much of what is left is economic in nature. As we approach the climax of our contract campaign, we want to express our sincere appreciation for colleagues who have joined us at the table as observers, participated in caucus, been active in our Slack, and turned out for actions. The progress we have made at the table is thanks to you. Please keep showing up!
Next week, we’ll be bargaining in-person once again, but this time on the Dearborn campus! We hope you will join us starting at 9:30 am for caucus in the University Center in Kochoff Hall. We will head to the table at 10am then hold lunch and programing with our allies from noon to 1pm. ! For all who plan to attend, please register by April 1st at 4pm so that we can send you all of the details. Wear your GLAM swag and help us show management that we’re ready to fight for a great contract across all 3 of our campuses.