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Two farmers meet at a local pub and agree to barter: “I’ll give you wool from my sheep if you give me milk from your cows.” The dairy farmer delivers gallons of milk to the shepherd and, a month later, attempts to collect wool, only to be told, “oh, I never actually said that I had any sheep.”
Last week, we opened Article 17 (Leaves) in an effort to provide real paid family leaves for FSU faculty, not just loans against our sick leave, and not only for new parents but for any of us who find ourselves in caregiver roles. The Board of Trustees opened Article 3 (UFF Rights), applying an overly broad interpretation of the new law (SB 1296) that limits some union activities while on paid duty.
Last Wednesday’s bargaining session began with the BOT offering to trade their closing down negotiations on Article 3 (we don’t want their proposed changes because they would make it far more difficult for our union to operate) for status quo language on Article 17 (our proposed changes might not be palatable to them because leaves cost FSU money). This kind of horse trading happens all the time in collective bargaining, but we smelled a rat (clumsily disguised as a horse… or perhaps a sheep). We asked whether—if we accepted their deal—they would truly agree to adhere to the status-quo provisions in Article 3 even after July 1st when the new law takes effect, and they went eerily silent. It was then clear that they had tried to dupe us out of the chance to negotiate for better Article 17 family leave benefits.
When we realized that their trade offer was not in earnest, we moved on, introducing clarifying language in Article 10 (Evaluations), offering a version of Article 3 (UFF Rights) that abides by the new law while still carving out time for faculty to engage in collective bargaining and contract enforcement, and we verbally gave them a sense of what we are hoping to accomplish in our new article on Artificial Intelligence. Thank you to everyone who made suggestions regarding our forthcoming AI article. If you didn’t respond last week, there is still time to let us know what you would value (or dread) in contract provisions on AI.
We are steadfast and will continue bargaining in good faith, but we could use your help! If you are not yet a member, please join now! We only have another month to get to 60% membership density and protect our union. If we don’t hit that mark, our raises, our leaves, our promotion and tenure, and our academic freedom will be protected only by the magnanimity and fair-mindedness of our administrators, trustees, and politicos. And if you can attend bargaining on Wednesday afternoons (our next session is tomorrow: May 27 at 2:00), please join us. It is helpful for the administration to see engaged faculty members standing in solidarity. Here is a Zoom link, but they can only see you if you come in person. Don’t be sheepish!
On behalf of your entire collective bargaining team,
Michael Buchler
Professor of Music Theory
Florida State University College of Music
Co-Chief Negotiator, United Faculty of Florida–FSU Chapter