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Notes on Labor/Management Meetings
February 7, 2005
In attendance: for UUP – James Dix, Fran Goldman, Beth Kilmarx (Part-Time Concerns Representative), Dennis Selzner and Darryl Wood; for the university – Sheila Doyle, Tom Gaube (student intern), Ann Glossl, Jeff Hadley, Joe Schultz and Edgar Singer.
- Productivity Improvement Program (PIP) The university presented information regarding a newly negotiated program for certain UUP employees to trade in vacation days toward their health insurance premiums. The university confirmed that in some cases the value of the vacation days may be less than the value of the health insurance premiums, resulting in a net balance in favor of the employee. This information had been emailed to eligible employees. UUP requested further dissemination of this information via Dateline and other methods. The university agreed to do this.
- Compliance rates for Professional’s Performance Programs The university reported that 92% of all Professionals had a Performance Program on file and that 50% of those were current, i.e., completed within the last year, providing an overall compliance rate of 46% for all Professionals. (The Board of Trustees Policies and the Agreement between the State of New York and UUP call for Performance Programs to be completed on an annual basis.) These figures do not include the compliance rates for Performance Evaluations and the university does not know these rates. Approximately 60 Performance Programs have been received since these numbers were calculated in January. The university indicated within 3-4 months, the compliance rates should be “up there” because of letters university VP’s had written strongly encouraging compliance. The university interpreted the phrase, “up there,” as a 90% compliance rate for the requirement of current Performance Programs. UUP requested a monthly update on progress toward that goal. The university indicated it would be problematic to comply with this request. The university indicated that completion of Performance Evaluation information was not studied. The numbers are now being inputted in Oracle and reminders would be sent out to either immediate supervisors or department HR masters. When asked about departments on campus that had not been in compliance, the university indicated that one was now in almost 100% compliance. UUP indicated that they would like to see good progress toward a 100% compliance rate by the April Labor/Management meeting.
- Fair Labor Standards Act Eligibility The university informed UUP that a final list of those who are non-exempt, i.e., those who can earn overtime for hours worked over 40 per week, will be available in a couple of weeks. They also indicated that they expected all those previously non-exempt would remain so and that 10-15 will move from exempt to non-exempt, becoming eligible for overtime. UUP noted its understanding that UUP and SUNY had agreed that no UUP members would be harmed, i.e., moved from non-exempt to exempt (being eligible for overtime to not be eligible for overtime), in this process. The university responded it had not heard this. The university said that there was a SUNY-wide effort to develop FLSA implementation policies and procedures. The university indicated that they would provide a final list to UUP when these efforts are completed.
- Compensatory Time Usage UUP related an incident reported to it that in a conversation regarding Compensatory Time, an individual in Human Resources had stated Comp Time does not exist. After some discussion, the university agreed that Comp Time does exist. The university indicated that the issue of Compensatory Time is complex and that Comp Time is considered on a case by case basis. The university referred to a 2002 memo explaining the various forms of Comp Time and their usage. At UUP’s request, the university will forward this memo to UUP and will place it on the Human Resources web page.
- Safety Issues – Snow and ice removal during Holiday Breaks UUP expressed concern that snow and ice removal during the Holiday Breaks, several years running, had been problematic. The university provided web citations from Physical Facilities regarding Snow Removal, http://facilities.binghamton.edu/snow_removal1.htm, and Use of Sand or Salt in Snow Removal, http://facilities.binghamton.edu/SandSalt%Policy.doc, and indicated that these policies are used throughout the winter season. UUP indicated several members had been injured and that a community member had slipped on the ice in January. The university responded that individuals should contact Physical Facilities to report dangerous areas. UUP asked if these types of reports/complaints are tracked. The university responded that no logs of this type are maintained. The university also indicated that Physical Facilities is aware of problems areas, e.g., those with slopes and student parking lots, and does their best to clear areas as quickly as possible. UUP indicated it continues to receive complaints on problem areas and officially requested the university maintain a log of reports/complaints and act on this. The university responded it would check into the possibility of doing this. UUP also officially requested the information provided above from Physical Facilities be disseminated to the university community at the beginning of each snow season and again during that season. The university responded that this “sounds reasonable.”
- Safety Issues – Pedestrian crosswalks UUP requested information on university policies regarding campus community notification after traffic accidents. The university responded there is no policy but that the Chief of University Police makes this decision on a case-by-case basis. Upon further questioning, the university also indicated that the Chief of University Police directs the Office of Communications and Marketing when to notify the campus community of these accidents. Regarding the specific accident in early December, the Office of Communications and Marketing was notified the next day. The news deadline for the last issue of Inside for the semester had passed by the time the information was received so campus notification was delayed until the beginning of the Spring 2005 semester. The university indicated a number of actions they had taken over the last several years in response to pedestrian injuries including: the portable speed (radar activated) sign had again been requested for use on campus, University Police will monitor cross-walk areas, portable Yield signs have been installed in several locations on campus (approximately 3 years ago), and speed limits in certain areas have been reduced from 30 mpg to 25 mph (approximately 2 years ago). When asked if specific recommendations had been made regarding lighting issues at crosswalks over the last two years, the university responded it did not know and would get back to UUP with an answer.
- Safety Issues – General concerns UUP continued with general questions regarding university policies and procedures related to reported safety concerns. UUP noted three emails sent by one individual regarding pedestrian safety that went unanswered and another individual’s request for safety lighting that went unheeded for over two years (this last request has still not been acted on). The university responded that the Personal Safety Committee would be the appropriate body for some of these concerns and that this committee reports to the Vice President for Administration. UUP asked what is the procedure for response once reports of safety concerns are made. The university indicated it did not know. When pressed on this issue, the university responded it depended on the specifics and that there is no general university policy or procedure for responding to specific concerns and complaints. UUP expressed concern that member’s contacts with various offices on campus regarding safety were not acknowledged, nor were the member’s concerns addressed.
- Parking Lot census UUP asked if the counting of spaces in all lots agreed to late in the Fall 2004 Labor/Management meetings had been completed. The university responded that snow coverage in lots had held this up, that this was ongoing and expected to be completed in March. UUP officially requested a copy and the university indicated this request would be fulfilled.
- Academic’s role in the classroom UUP requested confirmation that Article 9, of the 2003-2007 Agreement between the State of New York and UUP, Academic Freedom, still prevails on campus. The university indicated, “yes.” UUP discussed the recent resignations of two Academics in the Decker School of Nursing resulting from what the Academics said was inappropriate interference by school administrators in evaluating students and in assigning of grades. The university confirmed that the assigning of grades is the prerogative of the instructor of record. The university also indicated the only time this would not be the case is if the appropriate appeal mechanism, either through the Student Handbook Grievance Procedure or some departmental/school procedure, had been followed. The university agreed that only “very rarely” in the past had this mechanism been requested by students.
- Timeline for April agenda items UUP asked if the standard timeline for submission of agenda items for the April Labor/Management meeting with President DeFleur in attendance would be changed. The university indicated no changes from the standard two-week advance notice were anticipated and requested that if extensive research was needed for an agenda item, earlier notification would be much appreciated.
- Starting salaries for Part-Time Academics UUP requested starting salaries, on a per-course basis, for Part-Time Academics. The university presented the following: Decker School of Nursing - $4000, School of Education and Human Development - $3000, Harpur College - $2500-$3000 with higher amounts for some disciplines, School of Management - $3000-$4000 and Watson School of Engineering - $2500. UUP asked which disciplines in Harpur College were higher and why there were higher. The university responded they would get back to UUP on this. UUP also asked if Watson School’s departments paid differentially. The university indicated they did not.
Archived LM notes:
Feb, 2007 | Jan, 2007 | Dec, 2006
Nov, 2006 | Oct, 2006 | Sep, 2006
Jun, 2006 | May, 2006 | Apr, 2006
Mar, 2006 | Feb, 2006 | Nov, 2005
Oct, 2005 | Oct, 2005 | Sep, 2005
Apr, 2005 | Mar, 2005 | Feb, 2005
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