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: https://mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.html. 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 administrations 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