We continued to discuss issues for academic professionals at yesterday’s bargaining session, completing the first three steps of the Interest-Based Bargaining Process: Framing the Issue/Question, Identifying Data and Sharing Interests. We agreed to address three main problem categories—Salary Structures/Promotional Opportunities, Workload, Scheduling and Decision-Making input, and Job Security/Evaluation.
As we brainstormed framing questions, we spent a lot of time talking about workload. From admissions officers who view three times the standard number of files to research administrators who end up working ten-hour days, many of our academic professionals feel overworked and are unable to maintain a healthy work/life balance. The administration is also concerned about this issue, especially since the Department of Labor is planning to raise the salary threshold for employees that are eligible to earn overtime. Under the proposed Department of Labor guidelines, many of our academic professionals may become overtime-eligible, which means either their workloads must be adjusted to fit a forty-hour week or the University will have to pay time and half.
Towards the end of the session, we were joined by some of our members who displayed the Imagine cards we’ve been collecting during our contract campaign. On a each card, a student or worker has written about what they imagine PSU could or should look like. It was great to have members in the room as we shared our interests around this issue. We hope you will continue to join us as we imagine a Portland State that respects and rewards our academic professionals for the contributions they make to our university. Please join us for bargaining next Tuesday, November 17th at noon in Smith 298. The room will be decorated with our chain of Imagine cards. Come and share your vision of what Portland State could be!