2025-2028 Bargaining Blog: Session 3

Hey everyone, it’s Xanthippe with your session three summary. Session three was eventful with some decent progress with our proposals. 

We began with our counter to article seven where we struck some language about “conflicts of commitment” and the FSU-BOT team agreed on our edits. We also introduced articles ten and twelve. In article ten we attempted to increase the amount of days off for domestic violence leave to five business days, but our attempts were struck down. In article twelve we attempted to add language to have a clearer picture of matriculation fees as well as what GAs are paying with in and out of state tuition. We also added some language surrounding medical withdrawal and waivers. Many of our attempts with articles ten and twelve were initially struck down as well. We also correct out of date information in both articles proposed. 

In article twelve we also attempted to get more GA information through adding language to collect things like name, mailing address, etc. All of the things we were asking for are directory information, per multiple university websites, and do not violate FERPA. Still, we got the usual spiel about FERPA and our language was struck by FSU-BOT in their counter proposal. All this being said, we plan to present a counter proposal on article twelve, prepared with the research we did on FERPA and directory information, university websites being our primary sources of information for what is considered and not considered directory information. With directory information and FERPA, we continue to be one of the few organized universities in the state of Florida that does not have a bargaining unit list. 

After a caucus, FSU-BOT came back to the table wanting to keep article ten status quo, kept article twelve to do more research before presenting a counter, and issued their proposal for article two. At the end of session three, GAU and BOT signed off on articles two and seven, meaning they are now under tentative agreement. 

As a committee, we are still diligently working to ensure the rights of GAs across FSU’s campus. If you’re interested in the bargaining committee, feel free to join us over Zoom for the rest of the summer on Wednesdays from 12-1pm. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at bargaining@fsugau.com. Keep up with all things bargaining related through our instagram, @fsugau, or through our website fsugau.com. Thanks for reading! 

With Love & In Solidarity, 

Xanthippe Pack-Brown

FSU-GAU Bargaining Chair