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SEIU Local 73 Negotiations – March 10 Bargaining Update

Loyola University Chicago and SEIU Local 73 met on Thursday, March 10, for our second College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) bargaining session. Discussions were constructive and the parties made progress on several issues, reaching Tentative Agreements (TAs) on four proposals, which are detailed below.

At yesterday's session, the parties reached four Tentative Agreements:

Article 17-Professional Development – The parties agreed to TAs for two components of Article 17, including:

  • 1 Professional Development Fund: The parties agreed to make the Professional Development Fund available to Part-Time Unionized Faculty members who have completed two (2) semesters of teaching and all Full-Time Unionized Faculty members. Further, the parties agreed to add technological equipment to the list of eligible expenses within the Fund.
  • 2 Application and Approval Process: The parties agreed that, if by March 1, more than $10,000 remains in the Professional Development Fund, eligible Unionized Faculty members may apply to use the funds a second time in a fiscal year for up to an additional $600.

Article 25.4-Term of Appointment – The parties agreed to TAs for two components of Article 25.4, including:

  • 4(B)(2) Part-Time Unionized Faculty One (1) Year Part-Time Appointments: The parties agreed to increase the number of academic years used to calculate the number of course assignments for one (1) year part-time appointments or reappointments from two (2) to three (3). Additionally, Unionized Faculty members with a one (1) year Part-Time appointment shall receive their tentative class assignments and schedules no later than July 1 for the upcoming academic year.
  • 4(B)(3) Status as “Adjunct Instructors”: The parties agreed that Part-Time Unionized Faculty members who become Adjunct Instructors shall receive their tentative class assignments and schedules no later than May 1 for the upcoming academic year.

Article 25.5-Non-Reappointment/Notice of Non-Reappointment of Full-Time Unionized Faculty Members (Other than Temporary Faculty), Part-Time Unionized Faculty Members with One (1) Year Part-Time Appointments and Adjunct Instructors – The parties agreed that Full-Time Unionized Faculty members (other than Temporary Faculty) who have not completed their probationary period will receive notice of non-renewal of their contract by March 15 of the year their current contract expires. The parties also agreed that Full-Time Unionized Faculty members (other than Temporary Faculty) who have completed their probationary period and have multi-year contracts will receive notice of non-renewal of their contract at least twelve (12) months prior to the expiration of their current contract, otherwise an additional one-year terminal contract shall be provided.

Article 25.7-Probationary Period for New Hires – The parties agreed that if a Unionized Faculty member has a gap year in service of less than five (5) years, their previous time teaching at Loyola will be counted toward their probationary period.

Loyola also shared three non-economic counterproposals, which were discussed by both parties:

Article 7-Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination – Loyola proposed adding a new Article (Article 7.5) that states any claim or complaint under Title IX asserted by or naming a Unionized Faculty member will be processed through procedures required by statute and administrative regulations and guidance, as implemented by the University through its policies. The University will take action consistent with statutory and regulatory obligations under Title IX and those actions would not be subject to the “Faculty Grievance Procedure” or the “Faculty Appeals Procedure” of the Faculty Handbook or the grievance or arbitration process in Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Union presented a counterproposal seeking to note any Union member who is the subject of an investigation be entitled to exercise their Weingarten Rights and any Union member initiating a complaint shall have the right to Union representation in any meeting discussing the complaint. The counterproposal also seeks to have any discipline be subject to the grievance procedure in Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. These counterproposals will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.

Article 11-Grievance and Arbitration – Loyola proposed amending Article 11.1 to note claims and complaints under Title IX (as described in Article 7 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement) shall not be subject to the “Faculty Grievance Procedure” or “Faculty Appeals Procedure” of the Faculty Handbook or the arbitration procedure in Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Union presented a counterproposal seeking to have any discipline that arises out of the Title IX investigation be subject to the grievance procedure, which will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.

Article 32-Relationship to Faculty Handbook – Loyola proposed amending the article to note any reference in the Collective Bargaining Agreement to the University’s Faculty Handbook means the 2015 edition of the Faculty Handbook. If a new edition of the Faculty Handbook is approved and published by the University during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the 2015 edition will continue to govern but both parties would work together to reconcile and address any issues that arise as a result of the new edition.

The Union presented a counterproposal seeking the parties would reconcile and address any issues through either Labor Management meetings or effects bargaining and any amendments discussed would be formalized as a Memorandum of Understanding and be considered part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.  

SEIU Local 73 made one new non-economic proposal and one revised non-economic proposal, which were discussed by both parties:

Article 22-Benefits – The Union proposed adding a new Article (Article 22.3) stating any retired Full-Time or Part-Time Unionized Faculty member who is at least sixty (60) years old and has completed ten (10) or more years of continuous service with Loyola shall be granted multiple privileges immediately prior to their retirement date, including:

  • Keeping their Loyola University Chicago Photo ID.
  • Receiving prices and discounts for eligible retirees at the campus bookstores, recreation centers, Loyola athletics and cultural events.
  • Library privileges and access.
  • Invitations to annual events such as the Christmas Party, Picnic and Service Day.
  • The extension of tuition benefits to eligible retired faculty, staff and their dependent children, subject to the tuition benefits policy.
  • The extension of Loyola universal computing resources such as access to computing labs and email to eligible retirees who request those.
  • A complimentary one-year membership to the Loyola University Museum of Art.

Article 14.9-Union Orientation – The Union provided a revised proposal to add a thirty (30) minute session on the first or second day of the annual employee orientation program, or at another time the Union chooses, where designated Union representatives can provide an overview of the Union and its program to new faculty members who would be part of the bargaining unit.

What’s Next?
Loyola and SEIU Local 73 will meet for our next bargaining session on Thursday, March 18. In the meantime, please visit LUC.edu/bargaining for additional information.

Scheduled Bargaining Sessions

All times from 9-12, except at noted for March 24th:

  • March 4 (TH)
  • March 10 (W)
  • March 18 (TH)
  • March 24 (W, 1-4 pm)
  • April 1 (TH)
  • April 5 (M)
  • April 22 (TH)
  • April 29 (TH)
  • May 6 (TH)
  • May 11 (T)

*schedule subject to change by parties.