Information Update - August 29, 2005

When the management and union negotiation teams first met on August 11th, the union negotiation team’s initial proposal was the current contract agreement between the University of Minnesota and the University Education Association representing the faculty on the Duluth campus, except that the union negotiation team had highlighted specific provisions of the contract that it wished to specifically negotiate for the Crookston faculty. The management negotiation team’s initial proposal consisted of established University-wide and Crookston campus policies & procedures, and the team identified several specific items for which it wished to negotiate language specific to the Crookston faculty.

Because the two parties presented very different initial proposals, the management negotiation team suggested packaging both the union and management team’s proposals into 16 separate packets in order to achieve a more manageable process to negotiate a labor agreement. The union negotiation team agreed and the two parties subsequently began to negotiate on the first six packages, with both sides asking questions for clarification, offering explanations for proposals, responding to proposals and offering counter proposals. While the two teams had not reached agreement on all items, progress was being made towards reaching an agreement for the Crookston faculty.

It therefore came as a surprise when the union negotiation team informed us on August 25th that it was willing to continue to bargain only on the condition that the University agree that the Duluth contract is already in force for Crookston faculty, and the union negotiating team would negotiate only those sections of the agreement that it believed need updated terminology for the Crookston faculty. In response, the management team reiterated its position which had been stated at the first negotiation session: The current contract governing the faculty on the Duluth campus does not automatically apply to faculty on the Crookston campus. Furthermore, the management team believes both parties have an obligation to negotiate in good faith as to the terms and conditions of employment of the Crookston faculty.

On August 26th and 29th the union negotiation team continued to reiterate that it was willing to negotiate only those provisions in the Duluth contract that both parties could agree to negotiate, and that if the union does not agree to negotiate a specific provision, the existing provision in the Duluth contract would automatically apply to the Crookston faculty.

The management negotiation team does not agree that the Crookston faculty are currently working under the existing labor agreement between the University and the UEA on behalf of the Duluth faculty. We believe that both parties are obligated to meet and negotiate the terms and conditions of employment for a contract for the Crookston faculty, and that neither party can refuse to negotiate proposals on terms and conditions of employment that the other party brings forward. To that end, the management negotiation team has indicated that it will look at every provision of the UEA proposals and has agreed to identify each section of the Duluth contract in the packages previously offered. The management negotiation team is willing to repackage any or all unresolved items. Moreover, we have already started the process of negotiating each others’ proposals.

The management team would very much like to continue bargaining with the UEA and reach agreement on a new contract for the Crookston faculty. We have proposed the parties continue to negotiate the proposals each has brought forward during the dates already scheduled this week, August 29 - 31. As stated to the union negotiation team, we are more than willing, and prepared, to schedule new dates in the event we are not able to reach agreement by August 31st.

Late this afternoon, we were notified by the union negotiation team that the UEA is planning to take legal action in support of its claim that the current contract between the University and the Duluth faculty automatically applies to the Crookston faculty and is currently in effect.

Both teams agreed to meet again on August 30th.

The University of Minnesota , Crookston (UMC) is one of four campuses in the University of Minnesota land grant system.  UMC is a coordinate campus that provides a unique approach through applied and polytechnic baccalaureate education, research, and service.

UMC is an equal opportunity educator and employer