Bargaining update: 12/5
Leaves of Absence and Decolonial Education
We continue to approach tentative agreements on both issues. Your Bargaining Team responded to management’s counters on these proposals.
Zipper Clause
This article, presented by management, would limit our power to interpret and enforce our contract. Your Bargaining Team respectfully verbally declined this clause.
AI / Machine Learning
Management verbally declined CAWU’s recent AI proposal, stating that since the future use of AI is unknown they do not want a “blanket ban.” Their proposal is to keep their October counter found here.
Our proposal was not a blanket ban. It proposed limits on how AI would be used. Our Bargaining Team had hoped that the discussion on AI would be about where and how limits or boundaries could be established and negotiated over time: management’s counter proposal is deficient because it refuses to negotiate any agreement about limits at all with our union. Management's proposal is to retain as much unilateral control as law enforcement will allow. The commitment to talk about how AI use aligns with the Academy’s mission in the Joint Labor Management Committee is nice, but gives us no decision making power at all.
While there may be a few areas where the use of AI is useful, we value the work of Academy scientists, educators and artists, and believe that the environmental impact of AI is antithetical to the Academy’s mission.
Have thoughts about AI use in the workplace? Reach out to the Bargaining Team! bargain@calacademyworkersunited.org Attend our all-unit meeting on Tuesday, December 17th at 12pm in the Moss Room to share your ideas.
Health and Safety
During caucus, your Bargaining Team worked on the Health and Safety Proposal and it will be ready to introduce by the end of December.
Finance Presentation
Jim Gohary, the Academy’s CFO, gave a presentation on management’s costing process for our economic proposals. This is the beginning of talks about wages and benefits. Management estimates a comprehensive economic response in 2 weeks, at our Dec. 19th bargaining session.
🐝 The Organizing Corner 🐝
Board meeting report
On November 21, over 40 of your colleagues and community supporters showed up at the semi-annual public Academy Board of Trustees virtual meeting. Our union insignia were very visible as we made up about 40% of those in attendance. We filled the comment time with questions and comments about management’s top-heavy administration and the effect of this year’s program cuts. We also informed the board of management’s repeated rejection of non-discrimination, transparency, and shared decision making proposals; actions that fly in the face of management's publicly professed value of collaboration.
YAP debacle
Many members of the public have reached out to us after reading about the sudden termination of the Youth Action for the Planet program published by Mission Local on November 21 (since updated with an official response by Academy management). We are working collaboratively on a detailed statement and will share it with you shortly. In the meantime, we have been directing folks who want to express their disappointment to message SLT using the email tool on our website. You can share the link with your networks!
All-unit meeting
Join your colleagues on December 17th 12:00-1:00PM in the Moss Room.
Remember: Success in negotiation depends on your support and engagement!
Be on the lookout for colleagues with our Fair Contract Now petition
Wear your union button always and CAWU shirt on Thursdays
Sign up for membership here and talk with your colleagues about why it matters
Follow the CAWU article tracker, read the proposals and counters and speak to your representative on the bargaining team or a CAT activist about your issues and concerns
Your 1021 Staff field representative is Jessica Inouye. Her contact info is: Jessica.Inouye@seiu1021.org 415-717-8135. Please reach out to Jessica if you have questions or concerns about your working conditions.
