March 18, 2021

SEIU Local 73 Negotiations – March 18 Bargaining Update

Loyola University Chicago and SEIU Local 73 met on Thursday, March 18, for our third College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) bargaining session. Discussions remain positive and productive, with the parties reaching a Tentative Agreement on one proposal and moving towards agreements on several other issues.

At the session, the parties reached one Tentative Agreement:

Article 32-Relationship to Faculty Handbook – The parties agreed to amend 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. Both parties will work together through a Labor Management Committee meeting or effects bargaining to address any issues that arise from the publication of a new edition of the Faculty Handbook.

Loyola also shared one revised non-economic counterproposal and reiterated one non-economic proposal, which were discussed by both parties:

Article 7-Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination – Loyola revised its proposal adding a new article, Article 7.5, to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The article states that 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 (Title IX Requirements). Any Unionized Faculty member who is the subject of a claim or complaint under Title IX will be entitled to exercise their Weingarten Rights, and any Unionized Faculty member who asserts their own claim or complaint may have a Union Representative serve as an advisor to the extent permitted by the Title IX Requirements. The University will take action consistent with the Title IX Requirements, and those actions will 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 discipline (up to and including termination) of a Unionized Faculty member under Title IX will be subject to the grievance procedure in Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This counterproposal will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.

Article 11-Grievance and Arbitration – Loyola reiterated its proposal amending Article 11.1 to note claims and complaints under Title IX (as described in Article 7 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement) will 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 reiterated its counterproposal seeking to note any discipline that arises out of the Title IX investigation will be subject to the grievance procedure in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This counterproposal will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.

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

Article 21-Access to Services – The Union proposed changes to two components of Article 21, including:

• 21.7 Email: The Union proposed increasing the time Unionized Faculty members who have been informed that they will not be reappointed have access to a University-assigned email address from ninety (90) calendar days to four (4) calendar years.
• 21.9 University ID: The Union also proposed adding a new Article (Article 21.9) that states the University IDs of Unionized Faculty members will remain active for up to four (4) calendar years after their last teaching appointment ends. 

What’s Next?
Loyola and SEIU Local 73 will meet for our next bargaining session on Wednesday, March 24. In the meantime, please visit LUC.edu/bargaining for additional information.