Bargaining Blog 5.17.23

 We had another bargaining session with management yesterday! After their disappointing response to our economic proposals at our last bargaining session (see our blog post from March 14 for a reminder of how frustrating this was), we had the chance to respond. We reproposed many of our original proposals on issues that we know are important to our members, such as path to promotion, rewarding longevity, making benefits for staff and librarians more similar, and flexible work strategies (see our blog post from January 17 with more details about our priorities). 


After we shared our counter proposals, bargaining unit members shared testimonials on issues that mattered to them. We heard from members on how the following issues have impacted their lives:


  • Childbearing/childrearing

  • MLS release time and support

  • Professional development funds and support

  • Path to promotion

  • Emergency closures/inclement weather

  • Wages and compensation

  • Vacation time


A huge thank you to everyone who shared a testimonial! We hope that the University bargaining team listens to what we had to say and understands why our proposals matter to members. We are also hopeful that we will be able to come to tentative agreements on some proposals soon. We’re looking forward to having productive dialogues with the University bargaining team on how we can sustain and retain talented staff.


If you would like to share a testimonial on an issue that matters to you at an upcoming bargaining session, please fill out this survey to share your story. You are welcome to remain anonymous, and if you'd like a bargaining committee member to read your testimonial for you, please let us know. 


Feel free to reach out to a bargaining committee with any questions. As always, we ask that you continue to show your support for our union by wearing buttons and changing Zoom backgrounds to our union logo. The stronger the union, the better the contract! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the latest updates.

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