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The UFF-FSU and Administration/Board of Trustees teams have concluded negotiations for the 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement. We reached Tentative Agreements on ten articles, five appendices, and two Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) documents.
The 2022-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, as previously amended, can be found here.
Below are summaries of the Tentatively Agreed upon language. You can click on each article to compare the new and old language.
Art. 1-Recognition. Status quo. (no changes)
Art. 9-Assignment of Responsibilities. Adds that faculty members in departments that offer academic courses shall develop guidelines for the consideration of effort related to teaching assignments; guidelines must be approved by a majority of the faculty and are subject to approval by the Chair and Dean. Clarifies the process for changing assignments. Clarifies the Resolution of Assignment disputes process. States that pedagogical research may be considered part of the teaching assignment for Specialized Teaching Faculty. Clarifies University approval process for the use of appreciable University support to create or revise instructional materials.
Art. 10-Performance Evaluations. Adds data or metadata generated outside of the university may only be used in annual evaluations if approved by the faculty and are included in the department/unit’s faculty evaluation criteria. Adds that Evidence of Performance reports may include a Work Impact Statement to describe adverse external factors that impact a faculty member’s productivity; such statements will be part of the faculty materials for promotion, tenure, and Post-Tenure Reviews as appropriate. Clarifies that Deans and the Provost must take into consideration annual evaluation criteria for Post-Tenure Review. Adds that there shall be no quotas on the distribution of Post-Tenure Review ratings.
Art. 17-Leaves. Modifies the paid parental leave policy; faculty members may split the current six month paid leave for two births or adoptions; two faculty members can use paid parental leave for the same birth or adoption. Adds that faculty members who took parental leave prior to Fall 2025 and did not use the full six months can use the remaining allotment for a second birth or adoption.
Art. 18-Inventions and Works. Adds a Statement of Principles. Defines “Scope of Employment” and modifies the definition of “Independent Efforts.” Modifies exceptions to University-Supported Efforts for works, including University approval of open-source software. Allows limited and temporary right to use faculty instructional materials if the faculty member is incapacitated, abandons instruction of a course, or does not complete a course after instruction has begun. Outlines process to appeal University’s claim of rights in a specific invention or work, including arbitration, and outlines process to appeal university scope of employment decisions. Clarifies ownership of educational materials created with appreciable university resources and their internal use.
Art. 19-Conflict of Interest/Outside Activity. Status quo. (no changes)
Art. 21-Other Faculty Rights. Adds a June 30, 2026, deadline for the University to make a good-faith effort to implement the recommendations of the Safety Committee; delays will be communicated to UFF-FSU prior to this date.
Performance-based increases: 1.75% permanent increase to all faculty with an overall 2024 annual evaluation of meets expectations or better, effective Oct. 10.*
Performance Bonus: A non-recurring, one-time bonus of $1,000 to all faculty with an overall 2024 annual evaluation of meets expectations or better, effective Nov. 21.
Departmental merit: 0.50% of the faculty salary base (roughly $1.2 million) to be distributed according to departmental evaluation criteria and procedures as permanent increases, effective Nov. 11.
Administrative Discretionary Increases: up to 0.70% of the faculty salary base.
Sustained Performance Increases (SPI): 3% permanent increase for specialized faculty with five years of continuous University Service after their promotion to the top rank or after their previous SPI, effective Sept. 12.
Promotions: Continues promotion raises at the same levels as last year (12% and 15%), effective Aug. 6.
Post-Tenure Review: Continues PTR raises at the same levels as last year: 5% permanent increase for full professors and eminent scholars who received a PTR ranking of “Exceeds Expectations;” 3% permanent increase for full professors and eminent scholars who received a PTR ranking of “Meets Expectations;” $6,000 bonus for associate professors who received a PTR ranking of “Exceeds Expectations;” and $4,000 bonus for associate professors who received a PTR ranking of “Meets Expectations,” effective Sept. 12.
*Please note that raises will be reflected in faculty paychecks three weeks after the effective date.
Art. 25-Payroll Deduction. Clarifies that Article 25 and Appendix B are invalid and unenforceable as to payroll deductions of UFF dues unless Section 447.303(1) Florida Statutes is repealed, struck down, enjoined, or amended; PAC contributions may continue to be deducted.
Art. 29-Amendment and Duration. Changes the dates for the 2025-2028 agreement and the date for the next round of full book negotiations.
App. B-Sample Dues Check-Off Authorization Form. Clarifies that Article 25 and Appendix B are invalid and unenforceable as to payroll deductions of UFF dues unless Section 447.303(1) Florida Statutes is repealed, struck down, enjoined, or amended; PAC contributions may continue to be deducted.
App. C-Grievance. Adds electronic mail as an option to file grievances. Clarifies that the FSU Office of Human Resources, Faculty Relations, must receive a copy of the form in addition to the Unit Head. Removes unnecessary language regarding waiving rights.
App. D-Step 2 Grievance. Adds electronic mail as an option to file Step 2 Grievances. Clarifies the request for review can be filed with the Provost or the Vice President for Faculty Development’s Office. Adds a form for Notice of Intent to Initiate Fact Finder for personnel actions or decisions as bargained last year.
App. E-Notice of Arbitration. Adds language regarding the arbitration ban as outlined in Section 1001.741, Florida Statutes, for personnel actions or decisions regarding faculty, unless the statute is struck or enjoined. Adds electronic mail as an option to file a grievance and clarifies the name of the UFF Chair of Contract Enforcement.
App. F-Annual Evaluation Summary Form. Deletes reference to FSU’s high expectations. Clarifies that progress toward promotion statements must be included in annual evaluation narratives and that if the evaluator and dean/director is the same person, The Office of Faculty Development and Advancement will sign the form. Adds signatures for the Provost and the President when there is a Performance Improvement Plan.
MOA for Fall and Winter Breaks.
The next step in the bargaining process is the ratification of the negotiated contract by the faculty. This will be a majority vote to accept the negotiated settlement or reject it and send the bargaining teams back to the table for more negotiations. Information about dates, times, and locations will be sent via email soon.
Help us create a stronger voice for faculty at FSU and statewide. Join the team that works for you! https://www.uff-fsu.org/join/
Your UFF-FSU Collective Bargaining Team:
Scott Hannahs, Distinguished University Scholar, Research Faculty III, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Co-Chief Negotiator
Jennifer Proffitt, Professor of Communication, Co-Chief Negotiator
Brian Arsenault, Associate Librarian
Michael Buchler, Professor of Music Theory
Arash Fahim, Associate Professor of Mathematics
Jack Fiorito, Professor of Management
Robin Goodman, Distinguished Research Professor of English and UFF-FSU President
Kathryn Jones, Associate Professor of Biological Science
Aaron Rodriguez, Assistant Librarian
Alex Ledgerwood, UFF service unit director