Lecturer Bargaining Update: Bargaining Recap for 4/19/2024 and LEO Strike Authorization Vote Announcement
After a massive amount of movement on LEO’s part, HR came back with a salary counter with major raises (8/6/6/5% a year) in Ann Arbor, but only 3% a year for Flint and Dearborn lecs. We did see an expansion of benefits eligibility for Lecturer I and Intermittents, as well as a Teaching Professor MOU outside of the contract that would allow for a Special conference to address establishing a working title series. This was packaged with dropping our Housing Committee, Governance, and Childcare proposals.
Recent record inflation, childcare expenses, housing costs, and increases in overall cost of living are simply not addressed by 3% increases per year. Although Ann Arbor members may be satisfied with these raises, they will not go into effect unless the contract is ratified by the membership, which we do not believe could happen with such disparities across the campuses. Contract ratification requires that an overall majority of members who vote approve the contract, with majority approval on at least two campuses. Not ratifying the contract would mean that all our existing tentative agreements would go away and we would need to start from square one in contract negotiations.
The Union Council has voted to send out a strike authorization vote with the strong recommendation that all members vote YES. A majority yes vote will give us the ability to call a strike if the administration doesn’t meet LEO in a more reasonable place. It is the most serious and important tool we have to force administration out of its recalcitrance. The Union Council does NOT take calling for a strike lightly.
It’s late in the semester; if a strike ends up being called next week, it will likely take the form of a grade withholding strike. Please read our Grade Strike FAQ for specifics on what that means.
Members should receive a ballot from Simply Voting. The header will read: “Strike Authorization Vote”. The ballot will remain open until Tuesday, April 23rd at 5pm. After that you will not be able to cast your vote. If you don’t see a ballot by Saturday mid-afternoon, please check your spam or social folders. If you can’t find the email, contact Brianna Foraker at brianna@leounion.org.
On Monday, we are meeting outside the Michigan Union for an informational picket. All members and allies are welcome to register to support our bargaining efforts. We will be holding another all-campus general membership meeting Monday night at 8pm. The goal of this meeting is to answer any questions about the strike and to share information on any late bargaining developments. Members: please register to attend on Zoom.
Be sure to follow our proposals on LEO’s Public Proposal Tracker.
If you join bargaining on Zoom, make sure to change your profile picture and Zoom background to our new RED designs!
Dues-paying members have access to our Lecturer Slack Workspace where they can get live bargaining updates as well as participate in a myriad of different group conversations where questions get asked and answered and fun is had. Email your steward or LEO staff to join!
We’re only as strong as our collective efforts! Members can learn about and join one of LEO’s many committees.
Please share any photos or videos you might’ve taken at LEO events with communications@leounion.org.
Follow our social media accounts to stay up to date and boost our posts: