Tentative Agreement
between the
Montana University System
and
AFSCME Local 2235
Montana State University-Northern

 Modify the 1999-2001 collective bargaining agreement as follows.

 

1. Throughout the contract replace the word "classification" with "job title."

 

2. Article 2 Section B. Upholding Union Principles

Change to read: No employee shall be discharged or discriminated against for upholding union principles which constitute protected activity under the collective bargaining act (39-31-201 MCA).

 

3. Article 6 Section F. Probationary Period

Change to read: It is the policy of the employer to employ qualified personnel whose ability to perform the services for which they are hired is not contingent upon additional formal education or training. The first six (6) months of employment of any newly hired employee shall be a period of probation. Time served in a temporary position does not count toward meeting the probationary period. At any time during the period of probation, the employee may be discharged without any showing of cause. During the period of probation, the ability of the employee to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position shall be evaluated by the supervisor. On or about the ninetieth (90th) working day of the probationary period, the supervisor shall provide the employee with a written evaluation including notice of any deficiencies in performance and recommendations for improvement, if improvement is necessary.

 

4. Article 12 Section C. Workers Compensation

Change to read: Workers' Compensation payments are for the purpose of offsetting the loss of income suffered by an employee who is injured on the job. Inasmuch as an employee's pay continues while he/she is on sick leave, he/she is not entitled to both paid sick leave and workers' compensation payments. An employee who is injured on the job has the option of taking either sick leave or workers' compensation payments, and if his/her sick leave runs out, may receive workers compensation payments (Title 39, Chapter 71, MCA).

 

5. Article 13 Section A. Salary

Change to read: Salary shall be in accordance with Addendum A.

Section B. Montana University System Achievement Project (MAP) (new title)

Change to read: Effective July 1, 2002 employees will be subject to MAP in accordance with Addendum A.

Section K. Copies of Contract

Change to read: Upon final ratification and approval of this agreement, the employer shall prepare and make available to the bargaining agent a copy of the agreement. The agreement shall be available electronically or employees may obtain a copy from the employer or the bargaining agent.

 

6. Article 14 Section A. Employee Protection

Insert a new subsection 6. as follows and renumber subsequent subsections.

6. One (1) complete official personnel file for each employee shall be kept in the Employee Relations office. No information reflecting critically upon an employee shall be placed in the personnel file after July 1, 2001 that does not bear either the signature or initials of the employee indicating that the employee has been shown the material or a signature of a witness that attests that the employee has been shown the material and refused to sign it. If the employee desires to provide a brief written statement in explanation or mitigation of any document in the personnel file, the statement shall be attached to the document and included in the personnel file. Employees shall have access to all material in their personnel file. Employees may grieve placement of factually incorrect material in their personnel file.

Section O. Classifications

Change section title to Job Descriptions.

 

7. Article 21 Section A. Term

Change 1999 to 2001 and change 2001 to 2003.

 

8. Addendum A

Change to read as follows:

A WAGES

 

1. Effective November 1, 2001, employees shall receive a 4% salary increase.

2. Effective November 1, 2002, full-time employees shall receive the greater of a 4% or 34 cent per hour increase.

3. Effective June 1, 2003, employees shall be eligible for .5% Achievement Pay. The award of Achievement Pay on June 1, 2003 follows the Performance Development Cycle, which commences on approximately July 1, 2002 and ends on May 31, 2003, and shall be in accordance with the MAP Performance Development and Compensation Programs Guide.

4. Effective November 1, 2002, in addition to the salary increases specified above, employees are eligible for additional forms of pay increases as outlined in the MAP Performance Development and Compensation Programs Guide such as: lump sum awards, strategic pay, and progression pay.

 

9. Addendum B.

Change to read as follows:

 

B. MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ACHIEVEMENT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

1. The employer and the bargaining agent agree to implement the Montana Achievement Project (MAP), as outlined in the MAP Performance Development and Compensation Programs Guide beginning July 1, 2002. It is recognized that all employees and their supervisors must receive MAP training prior to implementation.

2. Every effort will be made to complete MAP training for employees and supervisors before June 1, 2002. If training for employees cannot be completed by that date, the bargaining agent will be notified of the need for an extension and the date by which training will be completed.

3. Employees shall be eligible to submit requests for reclassifications or file a formal classification appeal under the state classification system only until June 1, 2002. Any appeal or request for reclassification filed after that date shall be denied, and shall be without any further avenue of appeal. However, formal classification appeals may be initiated within thirty (30) calendar days following the denial of the request for reclassification as long as the initial request for reclassification was submitted prior to June 1, 2002. No employee will receive a salary reduction as a result of conversion to MAP or as a result of a request for reclassification.

4. Employees will be notified of the broad band to which their position is to be assigned on or before March 1, 2002. Appeals over this band assignment must be initiated on or before April 1, 2002.

5. Grievances concerning the Montana University System Achievement Project (MAP) are excluded from the contractual grievance process. The sole and exclusive appeals process for MAP related grievances is that contained in the MAP Performance Development and Compensation Programs Guide.

 

10. Addendum D

Change to read as follows:

Memorandum of Understanding Recruitment

In order to mitigate difficult recruitment problems and to retain employees with unique knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the university, the pay exception described below shall be implemented for the following job titles: Maintenance Plumber, Equipment Mechanic, Painter Journeyman, Maintenance Carpenter, and Electrician Journeyman.

Employees in job titles referenced in this memorandum shall receive a 30 cent per hour increase effective November 1, 2001, and an additional 30 cent per hour increase effective November 1, 2002. Such increases are in addition to the increases provided in Addendum A.

 

11. Addendum E

Change to read as follows:

Memorandum of Understanding Recruitment (Custodians)

In order to mitigate difficult recruitment problems, Custodians shall receive a 15 cent per hour increase effective on the first day of the pay period in which the bargaining unit ratifies this contract and another 20 cent per hour increase effective November 1, 2002. Such increases are in addition to the increases provided in Addendum A.