ITEM 121-106-R1103

 

To:������������������ Board of Regents

 

From:�������������� Sue I. Hill, Director

����������������������� Labor Relations and Personnel

 

Re:������������������ Approval of Tentative Agreement with Montana State University-Northern Federation of Teachers

 

Date:��������������� November 20-21, 2003


Attached is a summary of the tentative agreement reached with Montana State University-Northern Federation of Teachers.� The tentative agreement includes just the changes to the prior agreement.� The entire agreement can be accessed electronically at: http://mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.asp.� The faculty voted overwhelmingly to ratify the agreement, and publicized the election results on November 7th.

 

Very little was changed from the 2001-03 agreement.� We essentially rolled the prior agreement forward for two additional years with only two small changes and one new provision.� The changes to sections 3.5 and 7.7 in are highlighted in the summary.� A new sentence was added to the provision dealing with personnel files to clearly acknowledge the prerogative of the Chancellor to remove material from a personnel file when requested to do so by a faculty member.� The process for evaluation of tenured faculty members was spelled out in greater detail to require faculty to document their professional growth since their last evaluation.� The only salary increase for this bargaining unit, besides promotions, is the continuation of a $285.00 experience point.� The administration�s bargaining team would like to change the salary structure under this agreement and get rid of the point system.� However, this is an emotional issue for the bargaining unit and would have likely resulted in litigation if not agreed upon through negotiations.� The tentative agreement also includes a partial tuition waiver benefit for dependents that will be administered in accordance with Regent policy.

 

I recommend approval of the tentative agreement with the Montana-State University-Northern Federation of Teachers.

 

XC: ����� President Gamble

Chancellor Capdeville

����������� Commissioner Stearns

����������� Rod Sundsted