March news and important updates
Progress
Our Bargaining Team has been hammering out tentative agreements over union recognition, non-discrimination, and paid time off for voting. Recognition has to do with how management agrees to relate to our work. Will meeting space be made available to us? How will we place bulletin boards? How will dues deductions be made? How will management support (or hinder) the work of shop stewards?
Looking Forward
At our all-unit meeting on Feb 22 we began discussions about Seniority and Layoffs, Hiring and Promotion. These are the contract provisions that your bargaining team will be focusing on in the weeks to come. The Bargaining Team will be reviewing contract language on these topics from our sibling institutions among other places, but also needs to hear from you.
Obstacles and Sticking Points
Many of you were notified early this month of title changes via a memo from PACT. For example, our Curatorial Assistant colleagues learned that management wants to call them Collections Specialists–a typical job title for debt collectors–which caused them more than a little consternation. Even though we were assured that these titles would only be an additional column in Dayforce for unexplained administrative purposes, some staff had their titles changed on the Academy's website.
On February 13, our Bargaining Team made it clear to management that changes to wages and working conditions need to be bargained and that it is not acceptable for management to unilaterally change job titles in the midst of contract negotiations. As a result of agreements made in negotiations that day, most of you should have received emails from PACT on February 14 saying that the job title change is not intended to change any aspect of your employment. The Curatorial Assistants had their job titles corrected on the website.
NLRB charges
We have filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against Academy management for unilaterally changing job titles. Why? Because any changes to your working conditions—including your title—during this interim period must remain status quo or be made by mutual agreement. Once we have a contract, there will be structures in place that management must abide by to make any changes to your role.
Solidarity visit and action
Some of you may have heard that a group of 9 of our colleagues paid a drop-in visit to Academy management on February 1 to protest an apparent act of retaliation against one of the members of our Bargaining Team. While this matter has been partially resolved, we are still investigating and need your help:
Have you ever had a domestic partner or spouse who was laid off? Did you then apply to have them added to your Academy health insurance outside of open enrollment due to this "qualifying event"? We need to know! Email C...@calacademyworkersunited.org or bar...@calacademyworkersunited.org
This situation has also been documented and formally protested as part of our ULP filing. The case file is public, but you won't find many details in it. In order to qualify for remedies under the National Labor Relations Act, charges must be filed within 6 months of the action at issue, so don’t delay in bringing your issues to members of the Bargaining Team, CAT, or our 1021 Rep Mac Stevenson. As we develop our Cal Academy Workers United chapter structure, you will also have a primary resource for help in your colleagues serving as shop stewards.
COVID policy
Congratulations to all of you who filled out the COVID survey. Because you participated in filling out the survey, management recognized in the February 13th bargaining session that there was strong support for keeping the status quo until we ratify any changes in our first contract.
Because the current COVID policy touches on many aspects of our working conditions, our Bargaining Team wants to negotiate changes to the status quo as they come up in the context of relevant health and safety policies, sick leave, and other benefits.
As negotiations progress, keep up the good work on responding to surveys and polls. High participation rates in these polls and other group actions means that our bargaining team can make a strong case to management.
Calendar
Your bargaining team will be meeting with management every other Tuesday until June. In the month of March, that means bargaining sessions are happening on March 5 and March 19. Wear shirts and or pins on these days to show that we are capable of collective action to back up our bargaining team.
21 March (Thursday) 12:00pm to 1:45pm
Lunch Meeting
In the Moss Room. Our monthly opportunity for in-person bargaining and organizing updates and discussion. Lunch provided.
25 March (Sunday) 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Zoom Gathering
Can’t meet in person? Attend your union meeting in cyberspace! Get the latest news about bargaining and have your questions answered by members of your bargaining team. Share your thoughts. Join here: https://seiu1021.zoom.us/j/85232515547 Meeting ID: 852 3251 5547 --- One tap mobile +16699006833,
Ongoing events
For more event information, meeting times, and locations, check (or subscribe to) the Cal Academy Workers United Google Calendar.
Membership
Sign up for Union Membership today! Signing up for membership is different from signing the authorization card during our organizing campaign in 2023.
Union membership will allow you to participate in any votes on our first contract.
The more staff that are signed up as union members, the stronger the Bargaining Team will be during the negotiations. Just like you have heard us say over this past year: One Academy, One Union. We are stronger together. Sign up today.
Connections
Office hours
Hosted by your bargaining unit representative and CAT members–be on the lookout and keep an ear to the ground for dates and times. Ask your colleagues and check the Calendar. If you don’t see anything, reach out and inquire!
Bargaining Team
Email bar...@calacademyworkersunited.org.
Or strike up a conversation with a member of the team!
Contract Action Team
Members (like you!) volunteering to facilitate communication amongst their colleagues on contract bargaining. CAT plans and organizes events and actions throughout the negotiation process to build the power of our union. The Contract Action Team welcomes volunteers. Just show up at a meeting… ask around…or email orga...@calacademyworkersunited.org.
