May 13, 2024
The Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO) overwhelmingly approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with the University of Michigan on May 10, 2024. Read details about the agreement.
The Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO) overwhelmingly approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with the University of Michigan on May 10, 2024. Read details about the agreement.
Negotiators from the University of Michigan and the Lecturers' Employee Organization (LEO) reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. The new contract includes base salary increases of 8%, 6%, 6% and 5% over the next four years for lecturers on the Ann Arbor campus.
At UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn, lecturers will receive 3% base salary increases in each of the contract’s four years. They will also receive additional lump sum payments of 3% in the first year and 2% in the second year – both prorated for 100% effort or less – as well as a $1,000 lump sum payment, not prorated, in the final year of the contract.
Lecturers at UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint also have the option of reopening salary negotiations in the third year of the contract if the total number of student credit hours at their campus has increased by at least 10% over the first two years of the contract.
Further details of the agreement will be released after LEO conducts a ratification vote this week.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the final scheduled bargaining session. The university presented its final salary proposal for a four-year contract, which includes base salary increases of 8%, 6%, 6%, and 5% in each year of the contract for the Ann Arbor campus and 3% base salary increases in each year of the contract plus a $2000 lump sum payment in the first year of the contract for the Flint and Dearborn campuses.
The university added $700,000 to its salary package proposal, which would expand retirement eligibility and provide Lecturer I and Intermittent Lecturers access to the university's retirement match benefit. The parties reached conceptual agreement that resolves the Teaching Professor issue by a separate, extra-contractual memorandum of understating that applies to Ann Arbor.
The union declined to agree to a comprehensive tentative agreement, including all of the other terms already tentatively agreed upon. The parties made significant progress in many areas throughout the negotiations process, including:
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the nineteenth scheduled bargaining session.
The parties achieved several tentative agreements, including DEI-Related Initiatives for Lecturers, Professional Development, Tuition Support, and International Lecturer Assistance Fund.
The university presented another salary counter proposal which includes:
This proposal emphasizes the union’s base salary priority while also acknowledging the distinct financial differences among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses.
The union presented a large package proposal in response to the university’s salary counter proposal, which combines salary with withdrawing their Child Care, Governance, Housing and Leapfrogging proposals. As part of the package, they agreed to the university's last proposals on Special Case Appointments and Leaves of Absence. The union also agreed to a four-year contract. The components of salary where the parties need to come to agreement include minimum salaries, longevity payments, and annual increases.
LEO proposed the following base salary increases:
The last scheduled negotiation session will be April 20 in Ann Arbor.
The eighteenth negotiation session between the LEO Lecturers union and the university was held in Ann Arbor.
The morning part of the session was dedicated to open bargaining, allowing members of the university community with a direct interest in the negotiations, proposals, or presentations to attend. The university presented the following counter proposals:
The union presented the following counter proposals:
The university remains committed to negotiating a comprehensive agreement with the Lecturers before the contract expires. The next negotiation session is scheduled for April 12 in Ann Arbor.
Today marked the seventeenth negotiation session between the LEO Lecturers union and the university. The union presented counter proposals regarding Teaching Professor, DEI Initiatives, and the International Lecturers Assistance Fund. The university presented counter proposals regarding Professional Development Funds, Tuition Support, Unpaid Leaves of Absence, and Appointments and Layoffs.
The university presented another salary counter proposal, which includes 5% base salary increases for the Ann Arbor Campus in each year of a four-year agreement. For the Flint and Dearborn campuses, the university proposed base salary increases of 2.25% for each year of a four year contract and a $500 lump sum payment in each year in September from 2024 through 2027. This proposal recognizes the union’s structural movement in its last salary proposal and focuses on the union’s stated priority to raise base salaries for all Employees, while acknowledging the distinct financial realities among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses.
U-M and LEO Lecturers met for the sixteenth negotiation session. The union presented a salary counter proposal that shifted its compensation structure in a manner that contemplates the financial distinctions among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses and that indicates significant movement toward agreement.
The union also presented Discretionary Leaves of Absence, Professional Development Funds, and Tuition Support counter proposals and withdrew its proposal regarding felony disclosure requirements.
U-M presented Teaching Professor, Benefits Eligibility, Benefits Plans, Appointments, and Layoffs counter proposals and a conceptual pilot program for an International Lecturer Assistance Fund.
The next negotiation session is scheduled for March 29 in Ann Arbor.
The union’s and university’s negotiating teams met today at the UM-Flint campus for their fifteenth negotiations session.
The parties began the day with a small group discussion regarding deadlines for re-appointment and layoff notices. Later in the day, LEO presented counter proposals for the Appointments and Layoffs articles, based on outcomes from the small group discussion.
During the “open bargaining” part of the day, three guests spoke in support of the union’s contract campaign. The parties also achieved tentative agreements regarding Article XXII: Health and Safety; Article XXVI: Faculty Support; and MoU #15 Computer.
The parties also further discussed how the union’s proposal to establish an International Lecturer Assistance Fund would be implemented and administered.
In another small group discussion, the university invited a representative from the Benefits Office to share information about how eligibility for the university’s 10% retirement contribution match is determined.
Finally, the university presented another counter proposal for the Salary article, in which it raised its annual base salary increase for the Flint and Dearborn campuses from 1.75% to 2.0% for each year of a four (4) year contract. The university maintained its annual base salary increase proposal for the Ann Arbor campus at 3.0%. The university recognizes the union’s stated priority to maintain salary parity among all three campuses, but must also consider the different financial capacities of each campus.
LEO Lecturers and U-M negotiators met for their fourteenth negotiations session. The parties achieved tentative agreement on the Workload and Collegiate Lecturer Program articles.
The university presented the following counter proposals:
In addition, the university presented a counter proposal on Article XV Salary. Recognizing the differing financial realities among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor Campuses, and in light of the union’s stated desire for “parity” in salary for Lecturers across all three campuses, the university proposed the following:
and
The union presented a salary counter proposal that reduces its request for minimum salary increases. The union also presented the following counter proposals:
The parties continued their discussion about the union’s proposal to establish a survey mechanism for Lecturers in certain LSA programs to provide feedback about their respective programs (e.g., communication practices, program climate, and course assignments).
The next bargaining session is scheduled on March 15 at the Flint campus
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the thirteenth bargaining session. The parties reached tentative agreements for five articles:
The university presented counter proposals on the following articles:
The union presented a counter proposal regarding establishing a feedback mechanism for lecturers in certain LSA programs.
The university posed questions to the union to understand more about their membership’s stated priorities for maintaining parity in salary among the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses, in light of the different budgets and revenue streams among them. Upon caucusing, the union conveyed its need to deliberate and consider the questions among its membership.
The parties also had a sidebar discussion regarding Layoff and Recall.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the twelfth bargaining session at the Dearborn campus. The morning was dedicated to open bargaining, which permits members of the university community who have a direct interest in the negotiations, a particular proposal, or presentation to attend the bargaining session.
The university presented the following counter proposals:
LEO presented the following counter proposals:
During LEO’s counter proposal presentations, three consultants spoke about the union’s positions regarding salary, health and safety, and its housing committee proposal.
The parties achieved a tentative agreement on the Sick Pay and Other Paid Leaves article. The union withdrew its proposal regarding a health care coalition.
The parties also discussed the union's Spring/Summer Salary and Retirement Eligibility proposals.
The next bargaining session is scheduled on February 23 in Ann Arbor.
LEO Lecturers and U-M negotiators met for the eleventh bargaining session. The parties reached a tentative agreement on the Academic Calendar Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The university presented its first counter proposal regarding Salary, Article XV. The university proposed a four-year agreement with 3% across-the-board annual increases for Lecturers on the Ann Arbor campus and 1.5% across-the-board annual increases for Lecturers on the Dearborn and Flint campuses. The university packaged its salary proposal with the following articles:
Article XII: Layoff, Reduction in Appointment Effort, and Recall
Article XVII: Benefit Eligibility
Article XVIII: Benefit Plans
MoU #5: Notice of Non-Reappointment and Course Cancellation Fees for LEO Adjunct Lecturers
Retirement Eligibility
Tuition Support
This package is contingent upon the union’s withdrawal of its Leapfrogging, Housing, Health Care Coalition, Governance, and Childcare proposals.
The university also presented the following proposals:
Article XXII: Health and Safety
Article XXXI: Leaves of Absence without Pay and FMLA Child-Care Extension Benefit
Article XXXII: Sick Pay and Other Paid Leaves
New Article XLIII: Job Security
MoU #8: Teaching Professor
New MoU C. Principal Investigators
MoU #3: Child Care
The parties held a small group discussion regarding Increased Diversity in Hiring (MoU #12). LEO presented its counter proposal on Definitions (Appendix A) during the session.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for February 16 in Dearborn.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the tenth negotiation session. The parties reached five tentative agreements.
The parties held a sidebar discussion regarding Article XI, Appointments, Reviews, and Renewal proposal. The union also presented a counter proposal on Job Security (Article XLIII).
The university presented the following counter proposals:
The next bargaining session is scheduled for February 9 in Ann Arbor.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for their ninth bargaining session. The parties reached tentative agreements on Article II Non-Discrimination and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) #11 regarding Support for International Lecturers. Productive discussions continued with both parties presenting multiple counter-proposals for consideration.
U-M presented the following counter-proposals:
LEO presented the following counter proposals:
The union withdrew its Employer Neutrality and Organizing MoU.
The parties held a small group discussion to address the union’s questions about the Dearborn College of Arts Science and Letters (CASL) Lecturer Workload Policy. The parties also reached agreement for this matter.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for their eighth bargaining session. The parties reached a tentative agreement on Assignment of Lecturer III/IV Duties (Memorandum of Understanding MoU #7). The university presented the following counter proposals:
In response to LEO’s “Supervisor Feedback” proposal, the university presented a new MoU that would establish a pilot program for certain LSA academic units to develop a survey mechanism for lecturers to contribute feedback for shaping the future of their programs.
LEO presented the following counter proposals:
The union withdrew its proposal regarding Authorization for Payroll Deduction of Union Dues.
The parties discussed the university’s last proposal regarding Article XXI: Harassment, and also held a small group discussion regarding Article XIX: Performance Evaluation, specifically related to the Flint campus.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for January 26 in Ann Arbor.
Over the Winter Break, U-M and the LEO lecturers reached tentative agreements on Article VII, Appointments for Union Representatives and Article VI, Union-Employer Conferences and transmitted a counter proposal regarding Article XXI, Harassment for the union’s consideration.
U-M and negotiators for LEO lecturers met today by Zoom.
The parties held a sidebar discussion regarding anticipated changes to the academic calendar that need to be incorporated into the next collective bargaining agreement. They also met in a small group to further discuss the union’s “leapfrogging” proposal.
The union withdrew its proposal to eliminate the “No Strike” article and presented counter proposals on:
The university presented counter proposals regarding:
The next session is scheduled on January 19 in Ann Arbor.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the sixth negotiation session. Negotiators reached a tentative agreement on the Pay Advances for First Time Employees Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and exchanged several counter proposals. The parties also devoted time to small group discussions regarding the union’s supervisor feedback and job security proposals and listened to a budget presentation for the Ann Arbor campus by Tom Finholt, Vice Provost for Academic and Budgetary Affairs.
U-M presented the following counter proposals:
LEO’s proposals included:
Today’s session was the last for the fall semester. Negotiations resume on January 12, 2024.
U-M and negotiators for LEO Lecturers met for the fifth negotiation session. Significant time was devoted to small group discussions regarding course banking at the Dearborn Campus and leapfrogging proposals. The parties worked to achieve a common understanding of the circumstances that motivate the union’s proposals.
The union presented counter proposals on the Pay Advance for First-time Employees and Support for International Lecturers Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). U-M presented counter proposals regarding the following union proposals:
A representative from Work Connections joined the session to listen to LEO's feedback related to some bargaining unit members’ experiences managing illnesses or injuries that prevent them from working. The union’s leaders shared concerns on behalf of their members with the aim of improving procedures and communications between employees and Work Connections.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for December 15 in Ann Arbor.
U-M and LEO Lecturers' met for the fourth session of bargaining.
The union completed presentations of its initial proposals, which included; teaching professor titles, union rights, spring/summer salaries, governance, lecturer feedback for supervisors, no strike, employer neutrality and organizing, and an assistance fund for international lecturers.
The union has presented 43 proposals, including changes to 22 current articles, 9 current memoranda of understanding, 1 new article, and 11 new MOUs.
The university presented responses to several of the union’s proposals:
U-M and the union’s lead negotiators devoted time in a sidebar to discuss the union’s proposal to eliminate the Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Convictions MOU. Additionally, small groups from each team met to discuss the union’s proposals regarding Health and Safety and Harassment in further detail.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for December 8 in Ann Arbor.
U-M and LEO Lecturers met on the UM-Flint campus for their third bargaining session.
The union presented proposals regarding:
Article XVIII: Benefit Plans
Article XXI: Harassment
Article XXII: Health and Safety
Article XXVI: Faculty Support
New Article: Job Security
MoU #5: Notice of Non-Reappointment and Course Cancellation Fees for Adjunct Lecturers
MoU #16: Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Convictions
New MoU: Healthcare Coalition
In addition, Gerald Glasco, UM-Flint’s Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance provided the negotiations teams with a financial presentation about UM-Flint. Enrollment at the Flint campus has dropped 30% (-2,570 students) over the past decade, due to a variety of factors, which include a declining number of high school graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic and fewer international students. These factors resulted in a decline in enrollment that has significantly impacted UM-Flint’s financial health by reducing tuition revenue to the level it was 10 years ago.
While enrollment and tuition revenue have declined, salaries for faculty and staff have continued to grow, thereby creating an unsustainable financial situation. Without significant changes to enrollment and/or state appropriations – which totals only 20% of UM-Flint’s revenue - the university must continue to reduce spending.
U-M and LEO Lecturers representatives met on the Dearborn Campus for the second negotiation session. Bryan Dadey, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs for UM-Dearborn, provided the negotiations teams with a financial presentation about U-M Dearborn.
The university and union lead negotiators convened a sidebar to better understand the scope and intent of the union’s Non-Discrimination proposal (Article II). The union presented proposals regarding the following articles today:
The union also presented a new memorandum of understanding regarding “course banking,” which pertains to U-M Dearborn’s recent transition from three to four credit hours.
Throughout the day, the parties caucused and discussed the union’s proposals. The next bargaining session is scheduled for November 17 at U-M Flint.
The University of Michigan and the Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO) met for their first bargaining session. In opening remarks, U-M’s negotiator expressed the university’s commitment to collaborative negotiations leading to the next collective bargaining agreement.
After opening remarks from both parties, LEO presented its first group of proposals covering a broad range of topics including salary, child care, non-discrimination, and professional development. The union also introduced new proposals for retirement eligibility, housing, tuition support and “leap frogging” (rate of new hire pay relative to more senior employees).
Throughout the day, the parties engaged in productive discussions about LEO’s proposals and priorities. The next bargaining session is scheduled on November 10 at the U-M Dearborn Campus.