April 12, 2021

Loyola University Chicago and SEIU Local 73 met on April 12 for our sixth College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) bargaining session. The session was productive, with both sides working to understand the other’s goals in an effort to reach a fair agreement.

At the session, Loyola made one new economic proposal, which was discussed by both parties:

Article 24-Term of Agreement – Loyola proposed the term of the new CBA be from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026.

Loyola also made four economic counterproposals, which were discussed briefly by both parties and will be further discussed at the next scheduled session:

Article 13.4-General Promotion Procedures – Loyola proposed adding language to note a department chairperson will send a confirmation email to a candidate who had sent timely written notification of their intent to request a promotion. If the chairperson does not begin the promotion process after receiving the timely written notification, the candidate will not be negatively impacted and will be given no less than thirty (30) calendar days to submit the required packet of materials.

Article 20-Workload – Loyola proposed several amendments to Article 20, including:

• Article 20.1-Course Load: Loyola proposed adding Article 20.1(F) to note the specific course sections and minimum number of enrolled students that will cause a course to be counted as the equivalent of two (2) standard three-credit hour courses. Those are:
  • Anthropology (Minimum Students Enrolled: 120)
    • ANTH 101
    • ANTH 103
  • Biology (Minimum Students Enrolled: 105)
    • BIOL 101
    • BIOL 102
    • BIOL 152
    • BIOL 153
    • BIOL 202
    • BIOL 209
    • BIOL 243
    • BIOL 251
    • BIOL 265
    • BIOL 282
  • Chemistry (Minimum Students Enrolled: 105*)
    *If the below classes have between seventy-five (75) and one hundred and four (104) students enrolled, they will be counted as one and one half (1.5) of one (1) standard three-credit hour course.
    
    • CHEM 101
    • CHEM 102
    • CHEM 223
    • CHEM 224
    • CHEM 361
  • Psychology (Minimum Students Enrolled: 120)
    • PSYC 101
  • Sociology (Minimum Students Enrolled: 120)
    • SOCL 101

Loyola also proposed adding DANC 312 and DANC 314 to the list of courses in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts that are equivalent to one (1) standard three-credit hour course.

• Article 20.7-Unpaid Leaves: Loyola proposed adding Article 20.7 to note that full-time Unionized Faculty members (other than Temporary Faculty) who have completed their probationary period and wish to participate in projects or activities that require an absence from teaching and other responsibilities at the University will be eligible to apply for an unpaid leave. Any approved leave would not be considered a break in service and during the leave, the full-time Unionized Faculty member will be eligible (or ineligible) to receive benefits on the same terms and conditions as full-time non-unionized faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences who are also on unpaid leaves.
  
  
• Loyola informed the Union it may come back with further proposals for Article 20 based on additional investigation prior to the next bargaining session.

Article 23-Compensation – Loyola proposed several amendments to Article 23, including:

• Article 23.1(A)(1)-Minimum Annual Salaries for 2021-22 Academic Year: Loyola proposed increasing the minimum annual salaries for full-time Unionized Faculty members to the following based on the number of academic years they have taught at the University:
  
  
  • Less than 3 full academic years
    • Lecturer (without a terminal degree or equivalency): $57,982
    • Lecturer (with a terminal degree or equivalency): $60,054
  • Between 3 and 6 full academic years
    • Lecturer: $63,160
    • Advanced Lecturer: $65,955
  • More than 6 full academic years
    • Lecturer: $65,955
    • Advanced Lecturer: $69,579
    • Senior Lecturer: $74,549

Loyola also proposed when a full-time Unionized Faculty member moves into a category of longer service within the same rank, any increase of their annual salary to a new minimum will occur after the next round of annual merit salary increases have been applied to the Unionized Faculty member’s annual salary.

• Article 23.1(A)(2)-Promotions: Loyola proposed increasing the annual salary of full-time Unionized Faculty members who are promoted from Advanced Lecturer to Senior Lecturer by $1,000, from $4,000 to $5,000.
  
  
• Article 23.1(B)(1)-Minimum Pay Rates Per Credit Hour: Loyola proposed maintaining the standard pay rates per credit hour for part-time Unionized Faculty members at the current amounts:
  • With a Terminal Degree or Equivalency: $2,171
  • Without a Terminal Degree or Equivalency: $1,961
    
    
• Article 23.1(B)(2)-Hourly Rates for Certain Courses: Loyola proposed maintaining the standard hourly rate paid to part-time Unionized Faculty members for certain courses and other terms at the current amount of $73.54 per hour. Loyola also proposed those courses include, but not be limited to, applied music, dance, or theatre instruction.
  
  
• Article 23.1(B)(4)-Adjunct Instructors: Loyola proposed maintaining the minimum pay rate per credit hour for part-time Unionized Faculty members who have achieved the status of “Adjunct Instructors” at the current amount of $2,381.
  
  
• Article 23.1(C)-Temporary Faculty: Loyola proposed increasing the minimum annual salary for full-time Unionized Faculty members who are Temporary Faculty to the following:
  • With a Terminal Degree or Equivalency: $58,500
  • Without a Terminal Degree or Equivalency: $56,500

• Article 23.1(D)-Terminal Degree in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Loyola proposed adding Article 23.1(D) to replace the Side Letter Agreement Regarding Terminal Degree in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. The article includes:
  
  
  • Article 23.1(D)(1): Part-time Unionized Faculty members teaching language instruction courses who were hired prior to June 11, 2018, and possess a master’s degree, including those who are all but dissertation (ABD), but not a Ph.D., will be compensated at a rate of $2,171 per credit hour. This will remain until the pay rate for part-time Unionized Faculty members “without a terminal degree or equivalency” in Section 23.1(B)(1) exceeds it. At that time, the pay rate in this Section will increase to the same pay rate for part-time Unionized Faculty members “without a terminal degree or equivalency” as stated in Section 23.1(B)(1).
  • Article 23.1(D)(2): Unionized Faculty members who are teaching language instruction courses and possess a master’s degree, including those who are ABD but not a Ph.D., and who were hired on or after June 11, 2018, will be compensated as Unionized Faculty “without a terminal degree or equivalency.”
  • Article 23.1(D)(3): In the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, only a Ph.D. will constitute a “terminal degree” and Unionized Faculty members in the department who do not possess a Ph.D. will be ineligible for the status of Adjunct Instructor.

• Article 23.6-Voluntary Additional Assignments: Loyola proposed adding language to note any compensation determined by a departmental chairperson for Unionized Faculty members who undertake a voluntary assignment in addition to the teaching and other academic duties of the Unionized Faculty member is subject to approval by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or their designees.

Article 25.8-Credit for Temporary Full-Time Positions – Loyola reiterated its proposal amending the article to remove outdated language and state current full-time Unionized Faculty members who are Temporary Faculty and are awarded a regular full-time non-tenure track appointment will be credited a half (.5) year of teaching for every year they taught as full-time Temporary Faculty for the purposes of compensation and eligibility for promotion.

SEIU Local 73 did not present any additional proposals or counterproposals.

What’s Next?
Loyola and SEIU Local 73 will meet for our next bargaining session on Thursday, April 22. In the meantime, please visit LUC.edu/bargaining for additional information.