SEIU Local 73 Negotiations – 4/2 Bargaining Update

April 3, 2018

College of Arts and Sciences and ELLP Colleagues:

Loyola University Chicago and SEIU Local 73 met for 14 hours yesterday, April 2, for their most recent bargaining session and made significant progress on a number of outstanding issues. The parties discussed both College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and English Language Learning Program (ELLP) counterproposals. We are disappointed that despite Loyola meeting many of the Union’s requests, the SEIU is still planning a strike and is actively promoting a campus-wide walkout on Wednesday, April 4. We would rather see the Union focus on making reasonable proposals and working quickly with us to finalize this agreement without a strike or walkout, which would disrupt our students’ educational experience.

ELLP – The session started with Loyola presenting a comprehensive economic counterproposal on compensation, workload and benefits for ELLP unionized faculty.

• ELLP Proposal XXIII: Compensation – Loyola respects and values the work our unionized faculty do for Loyola and their contributions to our educational mission, and our compensation proposal reflects that. Loyola proposed that all ELLP unionized faculty receive a pay raise at the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year.

Loyola’s ELLP Compensation Counterproposal
Full-time unionized ELLP faculty	Everyone would receive a raise. Loyola proposed an 8% increase to minimum annual salaries for full-time ELLP unionized faculty who have taught less than six years at Loyola, and a 16% increase to minimum annual salaries for faculty who have taught at Loyola more than six years. At the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year, full-time unionized ELLP faculty on non-renewable appointments shall receive either the standard annual salary based on their rank and years of service at the University, or they shall receive a pay increase of 2% above their current rate of pay, whichever is greater. In the second and third years of the contract, faculty would receive a raise in accordance with the University’s merit raise pool increase percentage, which is consistent with what is offered to tenured and tenure-track faculty.
Part-time unionized ELLP faculty	Everyone would receive a raise. The minimum pay rate per unit would be increased 4% to $3,900 for a six-unit, eight-week class and $7,800 for a six-unit, 16-week class. Each year on January 1, the standard per-unit pay rates would be increased by the same percentage as the merit raise pool. Part-time unionized ELLP faculty who are paid at a higher pay rate than the minimum rate per unit shall have their pay increased in the same manner. In the second and third years of the contract, faculty would receive a raise equal to the amount of the University’s merit pool increase.
Full-time unionized ELLP faculty on temporary appointments	Everyone would receive a raise. Loyola proposed the minimum annual salary be raised 8%. Faculty paid above the minimum would receive a 3% increase in compensation. In the second and third years of the contract, faculty rehired for a subsequent year would receive a raise equal to the merit raise pool increase for full-time unionized faculty that took effect on January 1 of the academic year preceding.

ELLP Proposal XX: Workload

• Loyola proposed that the full-time regular workload for ELLP unionized faculty would be 18 ELLP units in each of the fall and spring semesters and 12 ELLP units in the summer academic term. Courses in the fall and spring semesters are typically divided into two eight-week sessions and the summer academic term is typically one 12-week session.
• Loyola proposed the part-time regular workload for ELLP unionized faculty is either 18 ELLP units combined over the course of the fall, spring and summer terms or nine ELLP units in a single academic term.
• Loyola proposed that ELLP tutoring courses be counted as six ELLP units for eight ELLP tutoring units.

ELLP Proposal XXV: Appointments and Reappointments – The parties discussed reasons for non-reappointment of full-time faculty.

CAS – At yesterday’s session, Loyola made the following CAS counterproposals, which meet many of the Union’s requests: 

Proposal XXV: Appointments and Reappointments – Loyola has heard from unionized faculty that they would like enhanced job security, and the University’s proposal offer just that. At yesterday’s session, Loyola updated that proposal to meet more of the Union’s requests, including:

• Reducing the requirements for part-time faculty to be appointed “Adjunct Instructors” who shall receive a two-year appointment.
• Loyola proposed that the initial appointment for a full-time unionized faculty member (other than temporary faculty) shall be a two-year appointment rather than a one-year appointment. The reappointment of full-time unionized faculty member shall normally be a three year full-time appointment. After two of these consecutive appointments, these faculty shall be eligible for a five-year appointment.
• Loyola reduced the reasons for non-reappointment by three.

Proposal XIII: Promotion – Consistent with what the Union requested at the last bargaining session, Loyola proposed allowing faculty whose request for promotion is denied by the CAS Dean to grieve the decision to the chief academic officer.

Proposal XVII: Professional Development – Loyola proposed doubling the pool for a Professional Development Fund to $30,000 and making it available to all unionized faculty who have passed their probationary period, as the Union requested at the last bargaining session. These faculty would be eligible to apply for grants up to $600 per fiscal year. A Special Joint Committee on Professional Development and the Dean would determine which faculty would receive grants.

Proposal XXIII: Compensation – Loyola respects and values the work our unionized faculty do for Loyola and their contributions to our educational mission, and our compensation proposal reflects that. Loyola had previously proposed raises to all members of the bargaining unit, including a very significant 33%- 35% increase to the standard per credit hour rate for part-time instructors, and annual merit raises for full- and part-time unionized faculty that are consistent with those earned by tenured and tenure-track faculty.

In addition to the significant compensation increases made at recent sessions, at yesterday’s session, Loyola proposed raising the hourly rate for certain courses such as applied music, dance, theatre instruction, independent study and supervised research by 7.5% to $70 per hour.

Preparing for a SEIU Local 73 strike
Despite our requests, the SEIU is still planning a strike and promoting a concurrent campus-wide walkout on Wednesday, April 4. This is puzzling and disappointing given our significant progress at the bargaining table. We cannot stress enough that Loyola University Chicago does not want a strike, but we are now fully prepared for one. We remain committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that’s good for our faculty, our students and the entire Loyola community.

During the SEIU Local 73 strike, our students’ intellectual, developmental and spiritual needs will remain our top priority. Read this flyer for more details on the implications of a SEIU strike.

• All striking faculty (whether in the bargaining unit or not) will not receive pay from Loyola during a strike.
• All Loyola buildings will be open during a strike, and University operations will continue as usual.
• Out of consideration for our students, faculty members are requested to update Sakai with a notification on whether or not you plan to teach your classes during a SEIU strike.
• We hope our faculty will not walk out on our students.

What’s Next?
Loyola and SEIU Local 73 are scheduled to meet for their next bargaining sessions on April 20, April 30, May 14 and May 29, but we are willing to meet sooner as well in the hopes we can complete the remaining steps to reach an agreement. In the meantime, please visit the bargaining website for additional information and updates.

Sincerely, 

Tom Regan, S.J.
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Patrick Boyle, PhD
Vice Provost of Global Initiatives and Academic Centers