March 24, 2021

Loyola University Chicago and SEIU Local 73 met on Wednesday, March 24, for our fourth College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) bargaining session. The parties reached three Tentative Agreements during the session and discussions remain positive and productive.

At the session, the parties reached three Tentative Agreements:

Article 7-Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination – The parties agreed to add 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 article further notes that if Title IX is amended during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, both parties will work together, either through a Labor Management Committee meeting or effects bargaining, to address any issues arising from the amendments.

Article 11-Grievance and Arbitration – The parties agreed to amend 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. Additionally, Article 11.3 was amended to note claims and complaints under Title IX are not subject to the grievance and arbitration procedure.

Article 21-Access to Services – The parties agreed to add a new article, Article 21.9, to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The article states that Loyola will reasonably cooperate with any former Unionized Faculty member who receives a request to provide a letter of recommendation from a current or former student. “Reasonably cooperate” is defined as University administration and staff assisting in accessing grades for specific students consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), providing use of space on campus for the former Unionized Faculty member and student to meet and any other reasonable request to facilitate a prompt response to the student.

Loyola also shared one new non-economic proposal, but following a counterproposal from SEIU Local 73, both parties agreed to reclassify the proposal as economic:

Article 25.8-Credit for Temporary Full-Time Positions – Loyola proposed 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 one half (.5) year of teaching for every year they taught as full-time Temporary Faculty for the purposes of compensation and eligibility for promotion.

The Union presented a counterproposal stating if there is a continuing need for a full-time Unionized Faculty member to teach the same or similar class, the University will fill the position through an expedited search and hiring process that would be considered a conversion. The continuing need applies when a Temporary Faculty member is replaced by a second Temporary Faculty member. This counterproposal will be discussed at future bargaining sessions.

SEIU Local 73 made five economic proposals, which were discussed briefly by both parties pending further discussion at the next scheduled session:

Article 20.7-Research Leave – The Union proposed adding a new Article, Article 20.7, which states Unionized Faculty members will be eligible to take unpaid leave from Loyola in order to conduct research. The leave will be subject to Administrative approval and while on the research leave, the Unionized Faculty members will retain their seniority and health care and will return to teaching when the research leave ends.

Article 23.7-Independent Study – The Union proposed adding a new Article, Article 23.7, which states any Unionized Faculty member who is assigned or takes on an independent study will receive an additional stipend of $600 per credit hour.

Article 22.3-Phased Transition Program – The Union proposed adding a new Article - Article 22.3 - which states Unionized Faculty members will be eligible for the Phased Transition Program on the same terms and conditions as eligible non-unionized faculty of the University in accordance with the University’s eligibility criteria, policies and plans.

Article 25.9-Special Consideration of Current Unionized Faculty for New Regular Full-Time Positions – The Union proposed adding language to the article to note Temporary full-time Faculty members, part-time Unionized Faculty members with a one (1) year part-time appointment and/or Adjunct Instructors are eligible to receive an on-campus interview to fill a regular full-time non-tenure track position in the College of Arts and Sciences if they have demonstrated a history of teaching excellence in the same or a similar courses, even if they don’t possess the required credentials described in the position description.

Article 25.10-Special Consideration of Current Unionized Part-Time Faculty for Summer and J-Term Classes – The Union proposed adding a new Article -- Article 25.10 --  which states an academically qualified part-time Unionized Faculty member who has been employed in at least one (1) of the previous two (2) semesters will have the right of first refusal for any class or sections that become available within the same appointive unit. The University will simultaneously email all qualified part-time Unionized Faculty members to call for assignments and provide a reasonable due date for a response and the course will be assigned to the first Unionized Faculty member to respond to the email. If no responses are received by the due date, the class can be offered to another Faculty member.

What’s Next?
Loyola and SEIU Local 73 will meet for our next bargaining session on Thursday, April 1. In the meantime, please visit LUC.edu/bargaining for additional information.