TO:  Board of Regents

FROM:  Sue Hill, Director, Labor Relations and Personnel

RE:   Approval of Tentative Agreement with Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters

DATE:  January 17-18, 2002

Attached is a summary of the tentative agreement reached with the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. The summary only includes those sections of the agreement that were modified during this round of negotiations. The entire collective bargaining agreement is available on line at: https://www.mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.html. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters represents approximately 24 employees at The University of Montana-Missoula, Montana State University-Bozeman, Montana Tech of The University of Montana and Montana State University-Billings.

The tentative agreement provides for a wage increase of 65 cents per hour (a 4% increase) on November 1, 2001, and an increase of 67 cents per hour (another 4% increase) on November 1, 2002. Foreman differential pay was changed from $1.00 to $1.10. Employees who are assigned to perform locksmith duties and who obtain and maintain any employer required certification will receive a salary differential of 40 cents per hour, up from the previous 35 cents per hour. Insurance increases are in accordance with state statute. A memorandum of understanding was added that allows the carpenters union to reopen negotiations if any other craft bargaining unit receives a better salary settlement.

Most of the language changes are not very substantive. At the request of the union, language was added which gives employees the right to obtain a copy of any employer policy relating to bargaining unit employee working conditions. All other language changes were initiated by the employer. The probationary period provision was clarified to exclude time served in a temporary position; a new section was added incorporating the statutory prohibitions against conflicts of interest; and a deadline for referring grievances to the grievance committee was added. The language on warning letters was modified. Previously all warning letters were to be removed from employees' personnel files after six months. The new provision only requires removal of the first warning letter after one year from the date of issue unless problems persist.

The bargaining unit has already ratified the tentative agreement. I recommend approval of the tentative agreement with the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

 

xc: Chancellor Sexton
Chancellor Gilmore
President Dennison
President Gamble