|
 Jump to the Coaches Contract News
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT
To view the Tentative Agreement powerpoint presentation, CLICK HERE.
FACULTY, COACHES APPROVE CONTRACTS WITH PASSHE Faculty members and coaches at Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities have voted to accept new four-year contract agreements with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).A total of 3,871 faculty members or 77.3% of those eligible, took part in the election. The final tally shows 2,699 (69.7%) voted for ratification, while 1,172 (30.3%) opposed the pact. The last contract ratification vote in 2004 yielded similar results when 72% voted to ratify; 28% voted No. Over seventy-five percent (75.3%) of eligible coaches participated in the ratification vote, and the pact was ratified by a 200-7 margin. Campus voting was conducted on the campuses from Oct. 1-4.“The faculty vote indicates acceptance of the terms of this agreement,” State APSCUF President Pat Heilman. “Faculty weighed the pros and the cons of this agreement and decided the pros outweighed the cons.”“The monetary package is an improvement over the last contract,” Heilman added. “That surely was a factor faculty considered before casting their ballots.”Heilman also commented on the coaches’ contract.“The coaches’ contract, their third, is a solid one, providing sound raises and some monetary acknowledgement of some coaches’ longevity with their universities. The language on compensatory time, a new addition to this contract, assures coaches will be remunerated for all of the extra hours they put in assisting our student-athletes.”The PASSHE Board of Governors will consider the tentative agreement on Thursday. If ratified by the Board, the contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2007 and extend to June 30, 2011.* * * * * * * * *FACULTY NEGOTIATIONS
(Note: For the most complete information on negotiations, register for the APSCUF “Members Only” web site. Call or visit your local APSCUF office to register!) THE APSCUF STRIKE FAQ DOCUMENT IS POSTED ON THE MEMBERS ONLY WEB SITE.APSCUF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FORWARDS POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BOTH TENTATIVE CONTRACTS TO FULL MEMBERSHIP APSCUF delegates representing all 14 PASSHE universities are at the Radisson Hotel in Monroeville this weekend, as the first APSCUF Legislative Assembly of the 2007-08 Academic Year is taking place.Early Friday, the delegates provided a positive recommendation for the COACHES tentative contract. Later Friday, after a lengthy debate, the Assembly delegates voted 61-43 (with two abstentions) to send a positive recommendation on the FACULTY tentative pact to the full membership.Looking ahead, all campuses will conduct voting on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Schools will have the option of using Monday and Thursday as additional days as well. The State APSCUF Nominations and Elections Committee will count the ballots on Tuesday evening, October 9.* * * * * * * * *APSCUF, PASSHE, REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON NEW FACULTY CONTRACT APSCUF and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with the approximately 5,500 faculty at the 14 state-owned universities.The tentative agreement, which must be ratified by both the union membership and PASSHE’s Board of Governors before taking effect, would run through June 30, 2011. It would replace the previous contract, which expired Saturday.The agreement was reached after five straight days of negotiations. It was announced today by PASSHE Chancellor Judy G. Hample, APSCUF President Pat Heilman and Governor Edward G. Rendell.“This agreement strikes a fair balance between the legitimate salary requirements of the faculty and the pocketbooks of parents across the state who are scrimping to send their children to college,” Governor Rendell said. “It is an affordable contract that sends a clear message that we are doing all we can to support and retain our faculty. As a result, we are improving the reputation of our great public colleges.” “These were difficult negotiations, which, toward the end, threatened to disrupt the education of our students,” Dr. Hample said. “Our ultimate goal was to reach a settlement that guarantees our faculty members are well compensated and our students continue to receive an excellent education at an affordable price, and we achieved that goal.”“After five days of continuous negotiations we have a tentative agreement that, I believe, will begin to improve our compensation package,” Dr. Heilman said. “This should, in turn, increase PASSHE’s ability to recruit and retain high-quality faculty. Our next task should be to devise jointly a negotiations process that allows for a more timely settlement in the future.”The tentative agreement provides for a one-time cash payment of $1,750 to each full-time faculty member, plus general pay increases of 3 percent each in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and 4 percent in 2010-11. In addition to the general pay increases, faculty not at the top of the salary schedule will receive annual service increments of 2.5 percent or 5 percent each year. The most senior faculty will receive a cash payment equal to 2.5 percent of their salary in the final year of the agreement.The faculty’s contribution to their healthcare premium would increase from the current rate of 10 percent to 15 percent by the final year of the agreement. Faculty also would be required to participate in a new wellness program, or their premium co-payment would increase to as much as 25 percent.Other terms of the new pact will be released upon ratification. The union membership will be the first to vote on the new pact, followed by the Board of Governors.6/23/07 BARGAINING REPORT APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, June 22, 2007, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in face-to-face sessions peppered with mediated sessions where the parties were separated. Issues addressed included regular part-time faculty and caps on temporary faculty as well as a consistent compensation and job security practice for long-term grant-funded faculty members.These issues were further discussed on Saturday, June 23, 2007, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A new salary proposal was provided to the APSCUF Team as well. There were very minimal discussions on healthcare.The parties will meet again on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 28, 29, 30, 2007.6/16/07 BARGAINING REPORT The APSCUF and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) bargaining teams met on Friday, June 15, 2007, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.Friday's discussions focused on comprehensive health care models addressing premium share, a wellness program, prescription drug copays and deductibles, the indemnity program and annuitant benefits. The PASSHE shared some data on annuitant healthcare costs that generated internal discussions within the APSCUF Team as well as a question and answer period with the System's Team.On Saturday, June 16, 2007, the parties met for 45 minutes and discussed the System's counter-supposal on regular part-time faculty. The APSCUF Team met internally to discuss a counter-proposal on a variety of issues dealing with temporary faculty.The next joint negotiation sessions are scheduled for Friday, and Saturday, June 22 and 23, 2007.5/25/07: APSCUF/PASSHE CONDUCT FACULTY CONTRACT TALKS; FUTURE SESSIONS 'ON HOLD' APSCUF and the PASSHE engaged in “shuttle” negotiations, where the State Mediator passed comprehensive supposals between the parties, for five and one-half hours on Thursday, May 24, and two hours on Friday, May 25, 2007. Despite attempts by APSCUF to move the negotiation process, there was no substantial progress made in the area of compensation in the sessions. The APSCUF Team, through the Mediator, has notified the State System that additional negotiation sessions are on “hold” until the System is prepared to engage in meaningful negotiations toward a contract. 5/18/07: APSCUF/PASSHE CONDUCT FACULTY CONTRACT TALKS APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, May 18, 2007, for approximately one hour in a small group session. The PASSHE’s costing methodology for a first year salary proposal was reviewed. The PASSHE also responded to APSCUF’s questions regarding the proposed wellness program. Following the small group meeting, the State Mediator shuttled between the parties addressing a mutual exchange of comprehensive supposals, which it was agreed will occur at the next joint session. Additionally, APSCUF provided a supposal on distance education in response to the PASSHE’s last proposal. There was an indication that the PASSHE’s comprehensive supposal, while not yielding significant movement, will facilitate a more focused discussion. The next joint negotiation sessions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 24 and 25, 2007.5/4/07 BARGAINING REPORT APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, May 4, 2007, for four hours in a small group session and discussed salary issues for the first year of the contract, the seven percent cap on temporary faculty and the McGuire Memorandum, summer school and overload compensation, and healthcare. The parties will be discussing contract costing methodologies early next week for additional discussions regarding first year salaries.The next joint negotiation session is scheduled for Friday, May 18, 2007.REPORT ON 4/27-4/28 BARGAINING APSCUF and the PASSHE Negotiation Teams conducted mediated negotiation sessions with the State Mediator on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28, 2007. The parties exchanged informal proposals through the mediator regarding summer school and overload compensation, rank and tenure for academic deans and provosts, salaries in the first year of the contract, and distance education. Discussions with the mediator also took place in regard to domestic partner benefits and the 2003 promotee issue. Despite extensive time and effort on the APSCUF Team's part, the PASSHE's movement has been minimal, and additional mediation sessions will be put on hold in favor of joint negotiation sessions and small group meetings. A small group session has been scheduled to take place on Friday, May 4, 2007.REPORT FROM THE 4/20/07 BARGAINING SESSION APSCUF and the PASSHE met Friday, April 20, 2007, in a small group to discuss the PASSHE’s distance education proposal which included substantive discussions on preparation compensation and other distance education compensation, class sizes, and workload.The PASSHE also provided a contract proposal on rank and tenure for academic deans and provosts which was reviewed by those APSCUF Team members who did not participate in the small group meeting. APSCUF will not make a counter-proposal until there is movement on the areas of summer school and overload compensation.The next joint negotiation meetings are scheduled for next Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28.4/13/07 BARGAINING REPORT APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, April 13 for three and one-half hours and discussed the issues of rank and tenure for academic deans and provosts and distance education.The State Mediator provided substantial assistance to the parties in progressing on the issue of rank and tenure. APSCUF explained distance education from a faculty perspective and responded to the PASSHE's proposed changes to that article.The next joint negotiating session is scheduled for Friday, April 20, 2007.REPORT ON THE 3/30/07 FACULTY BARGAINING SESSION APSCUF and the PASSHE met Friday, March 30, 2007, for four hours and discussed PASSHE proposals on annuitant healthcare premiums, rank and tenure for deans and provosts, the cap on part-time temporary faculty and the McGuire Memorandum, and APSCUF’s proposal on overload and summer school compensation. Substantive discussions took place during this negotiation session, and future joint meetings will include small group meetings that both parties hope will help to expedite the negotiation process.The next joint negotiation session is scheduled to take place on April 13, 2007, with a small group meeting scheduled on April 3, 2007.From 3/9/07: APSCUF/PASSHE Faculty Teams Meet The APSCUF Faculty and PASSHE bargaining teams met from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday, March 9, 2007, and discussed the PASSHE healthcare proposal. The APSCUF Team asked questions and sought justifications for the PASSHE’s proposed changes to faculty healthcare benefits. Although the PASSHE’s responses to these inquiries were minimal, there were meaningful discussions regarding the proposal.The next joint bargaining session is scheduled for Friday, March 30, 2007.* * * * * * * * * *From 2/23/07: APSCUF/PASSHE Faculty Contract Talks CancelledFriday's scheduled contract talks between APSCUF and the State System were cancelled at the request of the PASSHE.
From 2/16/07: APSCUF/PASSHE Faculty Contract Teams Meet APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, February 16, 2007, from 11:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. at State APSCUF Headquarters. The session began with a Power Point presentation by the APSCUF side dealing with the real erosion in faculty salaries relative to managers, faculty in other Pennsylvania universities, faculty in border state universities, and across the nation.The PASSHE Team offered language on three articles: Article 18 Leaves of Absence, Article 42 Distance Education, and a typographical update of the PASSHE’s proposal on Article 21 Fringe Benefits, focusing on medical benefits.The discussions on distance education were particularly enlightening and the atmosphere was positive. However, it was announced today that the chief negotiator for the PASSHE, Mr. Robert Durrant, will be replaced by another attorney. It is unclear how this will affect negotiations’ timing and scope. The next joint negotiation session is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 23, 2007.FROM 1/19/07: APSCUF/PASSHE EXCHANGE CONTRACT PROPOSALS
APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, January 19, 2007, and exchanged contract proposals at that meeting. There were limited discussions between the parties regarding the proposals. The PASSHE presented a salary package that would drastically erode faculty purchasing power and makes it virtually impossible to retain and recruit faculty. A significant attempt was made on the PASSHE’s part to erode shared governance and challenge faculty intellectual property rights. Their proposal also removes all controls on hiring temporary faculty and seeks academic rank and tenure for upper-level administrators. The APSCUF Team, as a whole, considered the System’s proposal as draconian. APSCUF presented a package that included moderate pay increases over the next several years, designed to make up some of the ground that faculty salaries have lost in recent years when compared with border states, state-related schools, and private universities. The parties’ next scheduled joint meeting is on February 16, 2007. APSCUF indicated to PASSHE that we are willing to meet in advance of the next scheduled meeting and we await their response.COACHES NEGOTIATIONS
COACHES NEGOTIATIONS
On July 1, 2007, the APSCUF State Executive Council voted to recommend this tentative agreement to the Coach delegates of the APSCUF Legislative Assembly. On September 28, 2007, the Coach delegates of the APSCUF Legislative Assembly voted to recommend this tentative agreement to the membership for a ratification vote. The ratification vote is scheduled for October 2 and 3 on your campus. Your campus may also have opted for additional voting dates of October 1 and/or October 4. Please contact your local chapter office for times, days and locations of the voting on your campus. You may view actual contract language on the State APSCUF website (www.apscuf.org, go to APSCUF Coach CBA, 2007 / Tentative Agreement). In addition, copies of the actual contract language may be viewed or obtained from your APSCUF chapter office. To see the State APSCUF Coaches Committee members, click here.
To see the State APSCUF Coaches Negotiations Team members, click here.
APSCUF/PASSHE ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON COACHES The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with the approximately 350 athletic coaches at the 14 state-owned universities.Although several elements of the final deal will not be addressed until the current PASSHE/APSCUF faculty contract negotiations are concluded, the tentative agreement with APSCUF would provide all full-time coaches with a one-time cash payment of $1,250 at the beginning of the 2007-08 academic year, as well as annual increases of 2.25 percent in January of each of the four years covered by the pact. It also would provide for additional increases based on merit in the second, third and fourth years of the agreement, and would increase the minimum salary for head coaches from $35,000 to $37,500 and for assistant coaches from $30,000 to $32,500 beginning in July 2009.Coaches would continue to pay an amount equal to 1 percent of their annual salary for healthcare coverage in the first year of the new agreement. That amount would increase to 1.5 percent in 2008-09, to 2 percent in 2009-10 and to 3 percent in 2010-11, although the amount could be reduced each year for those who participate in a wellness program, if such a program is created.The tentative agreement with the coaches must be ratified by both the union membership and the PASSHE Board of Governors before taking effect.June 18-19, 2007 – COACHES NEGOTIATIONS REPORTThe PASSHE offered a comprehensive deal which addressed the issues of compensation and healthcare. The PASSHE healthcare offer mirrored what AFSCME received, with gradual increases to co-pay starting in Year Two of the contract (1.5%, 2%, 3%) with a health risk assessment program available for active employees where if the employee opts into it, would cut the employee’s co-pay amounts by .5%, 1%, and 1.5% respectively. The compensation package offered by PASSHE was very similar to AFSCME’s, but not identical since coaches do not have a salary schedule and step increments: In Year One, PASSHE offered $1,250 cash payment (not added to base pay) and a 2% GPI in January 2008. The PASSHE revisited the merit pool and offered merit pools in Years Two, Three and Four along with a 2% GPIs in January. PASSHE agreed to increase the minimum salaries for full-time coaches in Year Three. APSCUF counter proposed that the percentages offered for the merit pools instead are to be applied as GPIs and that the PASSHE-offered GPI percentages are to be applied as Annual Salary Adjustments (ASA) equivalent to that of the AFSCME step increments. APSCUF also asked that the $1,250 cash payment be added to base salary and that part-time minimum salaries be increased. The two sides are working together to come to agreement regarding a fair compensatory time system and the performance review and evaluation instrument. “Me too” clauses will be applied to the coaches regarding Article 9 – LEAVES OF ABSENCE, healthcare benefit levels, and annuitant healthcare issues. (“Me too” denotes that whatever the faculty are able to negotiate will also be applied to the coaches’ agreement.)The two sides are to meet again on Wednesday, June 27th. If the two sides cannot physically meet, the state mediator will work with both parties between worksites. 5/29/07: BARGAINING SESSION HELD FOR APSCUF COACHES Here's the latest from the APSCUF Coaches Team:The PASSHE offered nothing new regarding the issues of compensation and healthcare. The PASSHE submitted no new proposals. APSCUF submitted a new proposal on Article 8 – CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT regarding the issue of non-renewals (Section 2). Currently, non-renewals are not reviewable in any manner via the grievance and arbitration procedure. APSCUF proposed that an exception be made in cases of allegations of discrimination in violation of state and/or federal law(s). The PASSHE responded by saying that the employer already has the burden of dealing with outside agencies, such as the EEOC and PHRC, regarding discrimination complaints; and it is not interested in addressing non-renewals in any fashion via the contractual grievance and arbitration procedure. APSCUF then discussed the possibility of creating a local review committee to consist of non-athletic personnel to appeal coach non-renewals (for issues not related to discrimination complaints) as an internal mechanism to preventing arbitrary non-renewals.The PASSHE offered more information regarding Article 11 – HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS, specifically information regarding a wellness program. The incentive program that was discussed is similar to the PEBTF’s: Individual employees could opt into a health risk assessment program to reduce their healthcare contribution costs. The PASSHE asserted that this is only for active employees and that retirees would not be eligible to participate. In addition, the PASSHE addressed Article 9 – LEAVES OF ABSENCE, specifically regarding the Sick Leave Bank and Military Leave: It agreed to publish the specific side letter language regarding the Sick Leave Bank in the next contract. Regarding Military Leave, PASSHE agreed that accumulated personal leave would be permitted to be used for military service, but it did not agree to the use of accumulated sick leave.The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Monday, June 18th at the State System. (The APSCUF Faculty Team meets again on June 15th.)FROM 3/26/07: APSCUF COACHES/PASSHE MEET AT THE DIXON UNIVERSITY CENTER At Monday's bargaining session, the PASSHE offered nothing new regarding the issues of compensation and healthcare. The PASSHE submitted only proposals regarding the performance review and evaluation procedure and instrument (Article 23 and Appendix E). Though the two sides made progress towards the creation of a final evaluation instrument, APSCUF asserted that since the evaluation instrument will no longer be tied to merit pay (nor does PASSHE wish to tie it to renewal of contract, as APSCUF proposes), APSCUF questioned its purpose. The PASSHE asserted that it is for professional development purposes. APSCUF stated that the proposed evaluation procedure and instrument is tedious for only being a mechanism to assess professional development. APSCUF also stated its concerns regarding PASSHE’s proposal, that though a positive evaluation rating will not be tied to renewal of contract, a negative evaluation rating could be given as a reason to non-renew a coach’s contract.
The APSCUF Coaches continued to discuss its compensation proposal and salary scale implementation and job security issues. APSCUF asserted that the compensation package that PASSHE offers the coaches is inadequate, especially considering PASSHE’s proposed increase to healthcare co-pay. PASSHE indicated that it was not interested in implementing a salary scale for the coaches’ bargaining unit. APSCUF then asserted that it was not interested in lump sum, uniform cash payments as a compensation package. The two sides are not yet scheduled to meet again. Both parties are working with the state mediator to schedule future meetings. The state mediator will work with the parties ensure progress at the next meeting.
* * * * * * * * * * FROM 3/12/07: APSCUF COACHES MEET WITH PASSHE APSCUF Coaches submitted a proposal, primarily discussing compensation (Article 10), salary scale implementation, and job security issues (Article 8). APSCUF created pay schedules and attached them to the proposal for review and discussion. The pay schedules included moderate general pay increases over the next several years with 3% annual step increments and two ranges (Assistant Coach and Head Coach). The PASSHE submitted a proposal regarding the performance review and evaluation procedure and instrument (Article 23 and Appendix E). The PASSHE offered nothing new on the issues of compensation and healthcare. PASSHE opposed APSCUF’s stance regarding the tying of renewal of contract to the evaluation rating, stating that Management does not wish to “tie the hands of the University President” and wants to maintain the University President’s management rights. APSCUF expressed that its primary concern is regarding arbitrary non-renewals. Additionally, APSCUF stated that there should be equality among Commonwealth bargaining units; that the coaches’ unit is the only group that does not have a right to have an outside party (i.e., an arbitrator) review whether or not a non-renewal is arbitrary.The two sides are scheduled to meet again on March 26. FROM 1/31/07: APSCUF COACHES TEAM/PASSHE EXCHANGE CONTRACT PROPOSALS APSCUF Coaches formally submitted both their non-economic and basic economic proposals to the PASSHE on Wednesday afternoon at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.The PASSHE then submitted its proposals on articles that address leaves of absence and compensation. PASSHE also made a formal proposal on the new issue of compensatory time. Additionally, PASSHE proposed changes to healthcare benefits and increasing employee co-pay amounts. The compensation package that PASSHE offered to coaches was grossly inadequate and inequitable.APSCUF presented a package that would give the coaches what all other state bargaining units have. This included implementing a pay scale with moderate general pay increases over the next several years, increased leave benefits and payout equivalent to what other bargaining units possess, and ways to increase job security to prevent arbitrary non-renewals.The two sides are scheduled to meet again on February 19.
|
