That's right my most excellent union members,
Regular Bargaining is Back!
However, don't get too excited yet, because we haveNOT YET COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON MOU #2.
So that's a LOT of news. Let's break this down into sections. Once again, if you're just here for the zoom links, scroll to the bottom and you'll see them.
Impact Bargaining CONTINUES
We are SO CLOSE you guys. We got some BIG asks met last week. Among them:
Every GA who was employed by FSU as of March 1st, 2020, will have the opportunity to apply for an extra year of funding. Current GAs applying for a funding extension will be given priority over admission of new GAs.
Out-of-state tuition and fees will be covered for all domestic GAs who start their second year Fall 2021.
The LAST few things we are hashing out with the administration include:
Exactly WHAT process GAs will have to go through to apply for their extra funding, and IF they will have to "demonstrate" that they need the extra year because of COVID-19. We do not think the burden should be on GAs to demonstrate this; the admin disagrees.
If you were a first-year GA in 2019-2020 and your residency was interrupted by COVID-19, we believe the University should cover your out-of-state tuition and fees in your second year. The administration STRUCK this language Friday; we inserted it BACK with some modifications.
And so the battle rages on! The administration is taking a week off to reassess and decide what exactly they can offer us to PUT AN END to this, finally. But in the meantime...
Regular Bargaining is Back!
I know what you're probably thinking...
Quick summary to catch everybody back up to speed on this, since our last regular bargaining session was inJuly.
Prorating: We proposed a plan to the FSU administration to END the prorating of GAs salaries that steals thousands of dollars from FSU GAs every year. Not sure what prorating is? We made a video on it! It's a slideshow!
Health Insurance: We asked that FSU act like a real employer and cover 100% of our health insurance premiums, instead of the 77% they're currently covering.
Raises: We asked for $1,000 raises for all GAs.
Minimum Stipend Increase: It's 2020, and GAs at FSU deserve 20k a year for their work! That's right, we asked that the minimum stipend be increased to $20,000 a year.
#NoFeesToWork: It is the strong position of the union that NOBODY should have to pay fees to work. We demanded fee relief from all our fees.
Discipline: Often in academia discipline is meted out unfairly and under-the-table. We want to codify a disciplinary process so that no GA will experience unjust disciplinary actions like bad teaching positions, switched research groups, &c.
As usual, we are looking for IMPACT STATEMENTS. If you have been affected negatively by ANY of those above bullet points, we want to hear about it! E-mail us atinfo@fsugau.org.
Remember: this is your MONEY on the line. You want higher stipends and lower fees? THIS IS HOW YOU GET IT. Remember that $650 December bonus last year?THIS IS WHERE THAT HAPPENS. All you have to do is show up.
Looking forward to seeing ALL of you there. Let's pack that ZROOM ("Zoom Room")!
In Solidarity,
Vincenza Antonetta Berardo
Chief Negotiator, UFF-FSU-GAU
Ph.D. Candidate
Philosophy Department
Florida State University
