We’re about to begin bargaining again….
What?!
Yes, even though it feels like we just settled a contract, we’ll start bargaining again in May. It’s such a short turn around this time, because it took us so long to resolve the last contract. Our current contract expires in November, and we hope to finish negotiations before the end of Fall Term.
Things are a little different this time around. As you may have already heard, we have agreed to use an Interest-Based Bargaining negotiation process. Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) takes a more collaborative, problem-solving approach to contract negotiations. The two parties present issues, outline their interests, share all relevant data related to the issues, generate solutions that meet both parties’ interests, and hopefully, come to a mutually agreeable solution. IBB works well for addressing complex, institutional problems. We’re optimistic that this process can help us make gains on some of the long-term issues that we have at this university.
While IBB uses a more collaborative approach to resolving contract issues, your bargaining team remains steadfast and devoted to improving our members’ wages and working conditions and to making sure we have a strong voice in decision-making at PSU.
In order to prepare for IBB, the bargaining team has been visiting departments across campus. We’ve been conducting listening sessions at (or right before or after) regular, department meetings. The purpose of these listening sessions is to:
- Hear what your issues and priorities are for this round of bargaining
- Learn how our issues are manifested in diverse departments so we can come-up with solutions that work for all of our members
- Collect stories about our members’ experiences
These listening sessions will play a critical role as we prepare for our upcoming negotiations. We’ve been relying on our unit rep and organizer network to help us schedule listening sessions. If we have not yet visited your department, please help us schedule a listening session. It’s easy! Simply contact your chair or manager and arrange for 10-15 minute spot on your April meeting agenda. Then email me with the date, time and place of your meeting (serbulo@pdx.edu, or Leanne@psuaaup.net). We’ll send out 1-2 bargaining team members to your meeting. In some departments, members prefer to organize their listening session immediately before or right after the department meeting. That works too.
Our goal is to get out into as many departments as possible this month. The more we hear from you, the better we can represent you at the bargaining table.
Finally, the gains we made in our last contract were a direct result of our bargaining unit’s ability to remain organized, unified and active. While the tone and process of negotiations may be different this time, it’s still important that our members to play an active role. Mark your calendars for our upcoming Bargaining Kick-Off Action at noon on Wednesday, May 6th. More information soon!