Summary of the Tentative Agreement
between
The Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education
and
The University of Montana-Missoula
College of Technology Faculty Association

Modify the 2001-2003 collective bargaining agreement as follows.

1. 1.000 PREAMBLE

Change to read: "The terms and conditions of employment for faculty in the bargaining unit represented by The University of Montana-Missoula College of Technology Faculty Association and the rights of the parties to this agreement shall be the same, where applicable, as those contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University Faculty Association of The University of Montana-Missoula and the Montana University System effective July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005, hereinafter referred to as the UFA CBA, except for the additions and changes listed below. All such changes and additions supersede any conflicting provision of the UFA CBA. Whenever this document includes substitute language for a section in the UFA CBA, the UFA CBA section is null and void insofar as its applicability to the FA bargaining unit. Any interim or future changes or additions to the UFA CBA are not applicable to the FA bargaining unit unless agreed upon by the Commissioner of Higher Education and the FA."

 

2. 2.600 CONTRACT TERM

Change "2001" to "2003" and change "2003" to "2005."

 

3. 2.900 NO STRIKE, NO LOCK-OUT

Change to read: "The Board and the FA agree not to engage in strikes, work stoppages, or lock-outs."

 

4. 3.100 RECOGNITION

Change to read: "The Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to as the employer, recognizes The University of Montana-Missoula College of Technology Faculty Association, hereinafter referred to as the Faculty Association (FA), as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of all employees in the bargaining unit. The FA recognizes the Board of Regents as the statutory governing body of the University System.

The bargaining unit covered by this agreement shall include all personnel with academic appointments, with a .5 or greater annual FTE and who are employed for both terms of the academic year to teach or do research. The bargaining unit also includes department chairs, library faculty with academic rank, and any other position that is included by mutual agreement.

Faculty who are half time or greater for two (2) or more successive semesters, excluding the summer, shall be included in the bargaining unit concurrent with the second semester appointment. Personnel appointed for a single semester are excluded from the bargaining unit. Any semester (excluding summer) without employment shall constitute a break in service for the purpose of determining consecutive employment.

The dean and associate deans, student services and other non-teaching professionals, and former members of the bargaining unit with post-retirement contracts are excluded from the bargaining unit as well as any position excluded by mutual agreement."

 

5. 3.200 UNION SECURITY

Adopt UFA provision.

 

6. Add the following new section:

3.400 OFFICE SPACE AND MEETING ROOMS

The FA shall have the right to meet in rooms of the University which are unscheduled for other use.

 

7. 13.220 NORMAL INCREASE

Change to read:

"2003-2004 - The normal increase in salaries of all full-time equivalent faculty for the 2003-2004 academic year shall be 0.00 percent. There will be no across-the-board salary increases during this academic year.

2004-2005 - The normal increase in salaries of all full-time equivalent faculty for the 2004-2005 academic year shall be $500.00. This increase will be added to faculty base salary effective February 1, 2005.

New hires will not be eligible for the normal increase in the year their employment becomes effective."

 

8. 13.300 SALARY FLOORS

Change to read: "The minimum salary for faculty on academic and fiscal year contracts shall be determined using the schedule of floors included in this section. The schedule of salary floors applies to full-time academic year faculty in tenure-track positions. Fiscal year faculty floors shall be 1.22 times the academic year salary floor. Salary floors shall be prorated for appointments of .50 FTE and above."

2003-2004 and 2004-2005

 

Level IV             $42,250

Level III $37,492

Level II $30,054

Level I $26,187

 

9. Add the following appendix:

APPENDIX A

Effective July 1, 1989, employees at the Missoula College of Technology shall be credited with their full amount of unused sick leave up to any established maximums. Sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989 shall be maintained separately from that accumulated after July 1, 1989. For employees at the Missoula College of Technology sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989 will be cashed out upon termination at the rate of one-half of the employee's pay attributed to the accumulated sick leave. Sick leave accumulated after July 1, 1989 will be cashed out upon termination at the rate of one-fourth of the employee's pay. Those sick leave days earned last shall be the first used.

The employer may at its discretion buy back some or all of the sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989, by employees at the College of Technology. The rate of buy back shall be one-half of the employee's pay at the time of the buy back. Unless otherwise agreed to, the employer must buy back sick leave from employees equally as a whole group.

 

10. Add the following Memorandum of Understanding:

A partial tuition waiver for dependents will be piloted for bargaining unit employees during FY 2005. Such benefit shall be in accordance with Regent policy.

 

11. Add the following Letter of Agreement:

The University of Montana-Missoula College of Technology Faculty Association and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee) of The University of Montana agree to enter into talks with The University of Montana University Faculty Association to discuss the merger of the two bargaining units. Subjects to be discussed with the UM-UFA include COT-FA faculty rank, tenure status, and other issues germane to accomplishment of a merger of the bargaining units.

These talks between the parties will be conducted on a regular basis beginning as soon as practical after the beginning of the 2004-2005 academic year.