What happens after you win your union election? Below is an outline, explaining the process. Our first meetings will be October 22nd and 23rd. We suggest that every department within CCA make sure they have a representative voice at one of the meetings. Should you not be able to make one of the meetings, you will still be part of the process via surveys as we begin to establish our bargaining priorities.
We will begin the process of creating our bargaining team and Contract Action Team at the first general meetings, which will be:
October 22nd, 11a-12p, Room B4 at the Oakland campus
October 23rd, 7p-8p, Room W1 at the San Francisco campus
1. Establish Bargaining Priorities. Bargaining items and priorities are set by contingent faculty. Tools used to collect this information could include but are not limited to: general membership meetings, hard copy bargaining surveys, online bargaining surveys, etc. Bargaining priorities are set before bargaining begins, but they are not fixed. Contingent faculty can modify bargaining priorities as the nature of negotiations change. Bargaining surveys will be coming out next week
2. Bargaining Team Selection. The bargaining team is the group of contingent faculty who negotiates the union contract. The terms, structure, time and place of the nomination and selection for the bargaining team is determined by contingent faculty. The makeup of the bargaining team, i.e., representation by department, job title, etc., is determined by contingent faculty. The number of bargaining team members is determined by negotiations between contingent faculty and administration.
3. Establish Contract Action Team (CAT). The CAT is the group of contingent faculty who supports the bargaining team during union contract negotiations. The CAT disseminates bargaining updates to the general membership, coordinates actions in support of union negotiations, does research for contract language, etc. As the name suggests, the CAT is active during contract negotiations, but it can stay active beyond bargaining if contingent faculty desire. Note: CAT is the commonly used name for this group. This group can be renamed if contingent faculty wish. We will begin the process of creating our bargaining team and Contract Action Team at the first general meetings, which will be: October 22nd, 11a-12p, Room B4 at the Oakland campusOctober 23rd, 7p-8p, Room W1 at the San Francisco campus
4. Negotiate Your Union Contract. After winning your union election, administration is required by law to negotiate with contingent faculty over job security, working conditions, benefits, pay, etc. Contingent faculty is represented by their elected bargaining team during this process. Contract language is written by contingent faculty themselves to reflect the specific needs of the general membership. An experienced negotiator will also be assigned to assist the bargaining team in developing contract language and strategies. Ongoing general assembly meetings allow for the membership and bargaining team to discuss contract proposals.
5. Ratify Your Union Contract. When both parties come to agreement on all items, a tentative agreement has been reached. The tentative agreement is then taken to the general membership, i.e. all contingent faculty, and a ratification vote is conducted. If the tentative agreement is ratified, it becomes a legally binding collective bargaining agreement between CCA and the contingent faculty. If the tentative agreement is voted down, the bargaining team and administration return to the bargaining table until a new tentative agreement is reached and ratified. It is only after the tentative agreement is ratified by both contingent faculty and administration that union dues (1.74%) go into effect.
6. Enforce Your Union Contract. Once a collective bargaining agreement is established, contingent faculty are the first stop in enforcing the union contract and ensure it is not violated. This is primarily done through shop stewards, self-appointed or elected contingent faculty who are given training in contract enforcement. Ultimately, the more contingent faculty are versed in the terms of the union contract, the less vulnerable to contract violations you are.
-SEIU Local 1021 will assist in each step of this process.
-Legal, research, communication, political and other resources will be available to ensure a successful contract.
-Contingent faculty will have the primary voice in how each of these components are developed and resolved.
We will begin the process of creating our bargaining team and Contract Action Team at the first general meetings, which will be:
October 22nd, 11a-12p, Room B4 at the Oakland campus
October 23rd, 7p-8p, Room W1 at the San Francisco campus
1. Establish Bargaining Priorities. Bargaining items and priorities are set by contingent faculty. Tools used to collect this information could include but are not limited to: general membership meetings, hard copy bargaining surveys, online bargaining surveys, etc. Bargaining priorities are set before bargaining begins, but they are not fixed. Contingent faculty can modify bargaining priorities as the nature of negotiations change. Bargaining surveys will be coming out next week
2. Bargaining Team Selection. The bargaining team is the group of contingent faculty who negotiates the union contract. The terms, structure, time and place of the nomination and selection for the bargaining team is determined by contingent faculty. The makeup of the bargaining team, i.e., representation by department, job title, etc., is determined by contingent faculty. The number of bargaining team members is determined by negotiations between contingent faculty and administration.
3. Establish Contract Action Team (CAT). The CAT is the group of contingent faculty who supports the bargaining team during union contract negotiations. The CAT disseminates bargaining updates to the general membership, coordinates actions in support of union negotiations, does research for contract language, etc. As the name suggests, the CAT is active during contract negotiations, but it can stay active beyond bargaining if contingent faculty desire. Note: CAT is the commonly used name for this group. This group can be renamed if contingent faculty wish. We will begin the process of creating our bargaining team and Contract Action Team at the first general meetings, which will be: October 22nd, 11a-12p, Room B4 at the Oakland campusOctober 23rd, 7p-8p, Room W1 at the San Francisco campus
4. Negotiate Your Union Contract. After winning your union election, administration is required by law to negotiate with contingent faculty over job security, working conditions, benefits, pay, etc. Contingent faculty is represented by their elected bargaining team during this process. Contract language is written by contingent faculty themselves to reflect the specific needs of the general membership. An experienced negotiator will also be assigned to assist the bargaining team in developing contract language and strategies. Ongoing general assembly meetings allow for the membership and bargaining team to discuss contract proposals.
5. Ratify Your Union Contract. When both parties come to agreement on all items, a tentative agreement has been reached. The tentative agreement is then taken to the general membership, i.e. all contingent faculty, and a ratification vote is conducted. If the tentative agreement is ratified, it becomes a legally binding collective bargaining agreement between CCA and the contingent faculty. If the tentative agreement is voted down, the bargaining team and administration return to the bargaining table until a new tentative agreement is reached and ratified. It is only after the tentative agreement is ratified by both contingent faculty and administration that union dues (1.74%) go into effect.
6. Enforce Your Union Contract. Once a collective bargaining agreement is established, contingent faculty are the first stop in enforcing the union contract and ensure it is not violated. This is primarily done through shop stewards, self-appointed or elected contingent faculty who are given training in contract enforcement. Ultimately, the more contingent faculty are versed in the terms of the union contract, the less vulnerable to contract violations you are.
-SEIU Local 1021 will assist in each step of this process.
-Legal, research, communication, political and other resources will be available to ensure a successful contract.
-Contingent faculty will have the primary voice in how each of these components are developed and resolved.