March 29, 2024
Today marked the seventeenth negotiation session between the LEO Lecturers union and the university. The union presented counter proposals regarding Teaching Professor, DEI Initiatives, and the International Lecturers Assistance Fund. The university presented counter proposals regarding Professional Development Funds, Tuition Support, Unpaid Leaves of Absence, and Appointments and Layoffs.
The university presented another salary counter proposal, which includes 5% base salary increases for the Ann Arbor Campus in each year of a four-year agreement. For the Flint and Dearborn campuses, the university proposed base salary increases of 2.25% for each year of a four year contract and a $500 lump sum payment in each year in September from 2024 through 2027. This proposal recognizes the union’s structural movement in its last salary proposal and focuses on the union’s stated priority to raise base salaries for all Employees, while acknowledging the distinct financial realities among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses.
March 22, 2024
U-M and LEO Lecturers met for the sixteenth negotiation session. The union presented a salary counter proposal that shifted its compensation structure in a manner that contemplates the financial distinctions among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses and that indicates significant movement toward agreement.
The union also presented Discretionary Leaves of Absence, Professional Development Funds, and Tuition Support counter proposals and withdrew its proposal regarding felony disclosure requirements.
U-M presented Teaching Professor, Benefits Eligibility, Benefits Plans, Appointments, and Layoffs counter proposals and a conceptual pilot program for an International Lecturer Assistance Fund.
The next negotiation session is scheduled for March 29 in Ann Arbor.
March 15, 2024
The union’s and university’s negotiating teams met today at the UM-Flint campus for their fifteenth negotiations session.
The parties began the day with a small group discussion regarding deadlines for re-appointment and layoff notices. Later in the day, LEO presented counter proposals for the Appointments and Layoffs articles, based on outcomes from the small group discussion.
During the “open bargaining” part of the day, three guests spoke in support of the union’s contract campaign. The parties also achieved tentative agreements regarding Article XXII: Health and Safety; Article XXVI: Faculty Support; and MoU #15 Computer.
The parties also further discussed how the union’s proposal to establish an International Lecturer Assistance Fund would be implemented and administered.
In another small group discussion, the university invited a representative from the Benefits Office to share information about how eligibility for the university’s 10% retirement contribution match is determined.
Finally, the university presented another counter proposal for the Salary article, in which it raised its annual base salary increase for the Flint and Dearborn campuses from 1.75% to 2.0% for each year of a four (4) year contract. The university maintained its annual base salary increase proposal for the Ann Arbor campus at 3.0%. The university recognizes the union’s stated priority to maintain salary parity among all three campuses, but must also consider the different financial capacities of each campus.
March 8, 2024
LEO Lecturers and U-M negotiators met for their fourteenth negotiations session. The parties achieved tentative agreement on the Workload and Collegiate Lecturer Program articles.
The university presented the following counter proposals:
- Article XI: Appointments, Review, and Renewal
- Article XII: Layoff, Reduction in Appointment Effort, and Recall
- Article XXIV: Professional Development
- MoU #10: DEI-Related Initiatives for Lecturers
In addition, the university presented a counter proposal on Article XV Salary. Recognizing the differing financial realities among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor Campuses, and in light of the union’s stated desire for “parity” in salary for Lecturers across all three campuses, the university proposed the following:
- 1.75% annual base salary increase in each year of a four (4) year contract for Lecturers on the Flint and Dearborn campuses
and
- 3.0% annual base salary increase in each year of a four (4) year contract for Lecturers on the Ann Arbor campus.
The union presented a salary counter proposal that reduces its request for minimum salary increases. The union also presented the following counter proposals:
- Article XVIII: Benefit Plans
- Article XXII: Health and Safety
- Article XXVI: Faculty Support
- MoU #8: Teaching Professor
- New MoU H: International Lecturer Assistance Fund
The parties continued their discussion about the union’s proposal to establish a survey mechanism for Lecturers in certain LSA programs to provide feedback about their respective programs (e.g., communication practices, program climate, and course assignments).
The next bargaining session is scheduled on March 15 at the Flint campus