Lecturer Bargaining Update: Bargaining Recap for 4/17/2024, GMM Report, and Strike Authorization Vote
Last night, we met for an additional bargaining session. Management passed back a package that included dropping Housing, Tuition Support, and Governance, along with their last proposals on Leaves of Absence and Provisions for Special Case appointments.
Admin’s salary offer included:
Ann Arbor: 7% increase in year 1, 5.75% increase in year 2, 5.75% increase in year 3, and 4.75% increase in year 4.
Dearborn and Flint: 2.75% increase plus $1000 lump sum in year 1, 2.75% increase plus $500 lump sum in year 2, 2.75% increase plus $500 lump sum in year 3, and 2.75% increase in year 4.
Admin has made it clear that the annual increases are contingent on dropping the Major Review minimums and longevity increases.
The response in the caucus was clear THIS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR FLINT AND DEARBORN.
The Union Council has issued the following press release:
April 17, 2024
Press Contact: Brianna Foraker, [330-284-4718] brianna@leounion.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: U-M LECTURERS’ UNION MEMBERSHIP OVERWHELMING SUPPORT A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE
Ann Arbor, MI –
On Wednesday evening, the University of Michigan Lecturers’ Union (LEO - AFT MI Local 6244) held a General Membership Meeting following negotiations with the University. The membership voted overwhelmingly for the union leadership to send out a strike authorization vote. This vote will allow LEO’s elected leadership to call for a strike of the 1800 lecturer unit if ongoing negotiations do not result in a fair settlement for a new contract. The Union has engaged in nearly 6 months of contract negotiations with the University with a final bargaining session scheduled for Friday, April 19th before the contract is set to expire on April 20th. The elected leadership will make a final decision on sending out the strike authorization vote at the end of Friday bargaining.
The Union has tentative plans to hold informational picketing at the upcoming Engineering Lab Building Naming Celebration on the University of Michigan-Dearborn Campus on Friday and the Campus Day events for admitted students on the Ann Arbor campus starting on Monday.
The biggest remaining bargaining issues are salary increases for the lecturers on the Dearborn and Flint campuses. According to Kirsten Herold, President, Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO - AFT MI Local 6244), “We have made considerable strides in so many areas; however, our members cannot accept raises far below the level of inflation for our Flint and Dearborn members. The decision to strike, if it is made, will not be made lightly, as we understand the impact on our students and the campus.”
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The Lecturers' Employee Organization (LEO - AFT Local 6244) is the union of non-tenure track faculty on all three campuses of the University of Michigan. Its membership encompasses lecturers, librarians, archivists, and curators. It is a democratic organization run by members, most of whom are volunteers. LEO operates with the belief that the right to collective bargaining empowers us to fight for the respect we deserve as teaching professionals who are also recognized scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs.