Faculty Union Bargaining

April 3 & 4 Session

What happened: Representatives of the Oregon Tech chapter of the American Association of University Professors (OT-AAUP) and Oregon Tech met on Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4. They exchanged new proposals on eight topics and reached tentative agreements on two, bringing the total agreements to three.

The three articles with tentative agreements are:

• Personnel Records
• Distribution of Agreement
• Notices and Communications

The University proposed changes on these other issues:

• Leaves: The University agreed to new language related to inclement weather and rejected a new leave category OT-AAUP proposed entitled “Promotion Related Career Development Paid Leave.” However, the University’s representatives said they are still considering whether to agree to such language in another article. The University made other adjustments to conform with laws that have changed in the past two years.
• Severability: The University countered OT-AAUP’s initial proposal with minor changes.
• No Strike/No Lockout: The University rejected OT-AAUP’s request to allow picketing during negotiations and added that the picketing ban would apply when the parties are in impact bargaining during the term of the Agreement. The University’s representatives also explained why they would like to retain language on what is not considered a lockout.
• Disciplinary Procedures: The University agreed with OT-AAUP on when to inform faculty members under investigation of their right to union representation. But it countered other proposed changes to disciplinary procedures by clearly stating when it must follow certain federal & state laws first. The University also rejected OT-AAUP’s proposal to give faculty members under investigation certain rights that are not entirely consistent with laws.
• Association Dues: The University and OT-AAUP are mostly in agreement on the changes in this article, except the University wants to revise language about when OT-AAUP would hold it harmless for errors in dues deductions.

OT-AAUP proposed updates to the following articles of the contract:

• Grievances: OT-AAUP agreed to most of the University’s language on an informal and formal process for grievances, as well as changing the timeline to calendar days. OT-AAUP proposed further changes to the procedural aspects of a grievance, including, among other things, when a grievance can be expanded after it is filed.
• Arbitration: OT-AAUP proposed changes related to when to file for arbitration, how an arbitrator is selected, where and how an arbitration occurs, an arbitrator’s authority, and fee payment when an arbitration is withdrawn.
• Professional Development: OT-AAUP proposed to move away from a pool of money and instead give each individual faculty member a professional development account. OT-AAUP proposed that each faculty member receive $3,000 each year for, among other things, conference fees and travel, acquisition of specialized equipment, and relevant training and continuing education opportunities.

Medical Imaging Technology salary update: Before spring break, OT-AAUP provided a counter to the University’s proposal to increase base salaries in the Medical Imaging Technology department starting in spring term. OT-AAUP’s counter sought to address potential issues of inversion (when a long-term employee earns less than an employee with less years of service) and compression (when long-term and newer employees earn approximately the same) by raising salaries to a set minimum based on rank, then applying a one-time increase to each faculty member by rank. The University responded that it was likely not interested in set minimums but would respond this week. 

What’s next: The parties are set to continue negotiations from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 18 at the Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville. 

OIT Expenses

• Salary and Benifits 73.2%
• Service and Supplies 22.9%
• Other 3.0%