August Bargaining update

The Bargaining Team from United Faculty of Florida-FSCJ met with the Administration/Board representatives on Wednesday afternoon until about 5:30. There were roughly 20-25 faculty members present. We presented our Compensation and Workload proposals first. Having heard Dr. Bioteau make repeated public statements that she would like to help us get our salaries up to the state average, we took her at her word. We proposed salary increases of $3306 and 3% for this year and $3305 and 3% for next year.

Contact Your Senator Now on Bills Moving to a Vote Soon

The most serious threats faculty members face now (March 31-April 3) are to the benefits that are part of their compensation package.  House Speaker Weatherford has made it clear that his top priority this session is to cut retirement and health insurance benefits for public employees. We have a chance of stopping this action in the Senate if faculty call (from a private phone) the Florida Senator from their district and leave a 30-second polite message with the receptionist. (It helps to mention that you live in the district.) See link below for phone number of your Senator.        

United Faculty of Florida Bargaining Update March 28, 2014

Dear Colleagues,
 
Your United Faculty of Florida- FSCJ Bargaining Team met with the Administration’s team today. We worked on several issues of importance to all Faculty.
 
We reached Tentative Agreement on Article 4 (Faculty Rights).  There were small changes to the current language, the main one being a clearer faculty notification policy when derogatory documents are placed in a personnel file.
 

Legislative update (2/14/14): Higher Education

Although this was officially Valentine's Week, we weren't feeling much love up here in Tallahassee.  Legislators are once again starting their attack on the Florida Retirement System.  This week a bill was filed in the Senate which would create what is called a "cash balance" plan (more below).  Rumors indicate there are more FRS 'reform' bills to come.  It seems that legislators just can't keep their hands off your retirement!  The first hearing of the new bill is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee at 2 p.m.

UFF-FSCJ Bargaining Update

      We mutually agreed to keep the current continuing contract process for the remainder of the semester.  All current CC candidates will advance under the current process.
      
     We discussed some ideas to address the changes to continuing contract and post-continuing contract review required by a change in the State Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0411 for the next contract. The team passed to the Administration the working papers  for Articles 13 (Continuing Contract) and 13 A (Post-Continuing Contract Review)