Colleagues,
As UFE Bargaining Chair, I want to update you on the bargain between TESC and UFE. Before I address the bargain, I want to thank all of you who attended the various UFE forums this spring around the bargain and showed your support for faculty engaging in work to recruit and retain Evergreen students. Faculty participation in student enrollment is a key UFE issue in this bargain and it is heartening to learn about faculty enthusiasm in doing this work.
Second, UFE wants to welcome John Carmichael as the Evergreen President. We have worked with John at the bargaining table for several bargains and look forward to continuing that relationship.
Third, UFE wants to congratulate all the faculty who earned their continued faculty status this year. You are the future of the Evergreen faculty and our academic traditions.
Fourth, I have been joined with great colleagues on the UFE Bargaining and Leadership teams this year and in particular, this Spring. UFE Chair Shawn Hazboun and UFE Bargaining Team member Brad Proctor have been on leave this spring, yet they have still been available to provide insights to the bargain. Grace Huerta has served as interim UFE Chair while Shawn has been on leave, and UFE Vice Chair Laurie Meeker will serve as interim UFE Chair during the summer. Much thanks to these great colleagues.
As to the bargain– UFE and TESC continue to bargain. While it was our goal to reach a tentative agreement to bring to the UFE members for ratification before the end of the spring quarter, the uncertainty of TESC academic leadership, the late conclusion of the Washington State Legislature to finalize the biennium budget, and the complexities of mandatory vaccinations and a safe campus in the fall have led to continuing negotiations without reaching a tentative agreement as yet.
As to the bargain– UFE and TESC continue to bargain. While it was our goal to reach a tentative agreement to bring to the UFE members for ratification before the end of the spring quarter, the uncertainty of TESC academic leadership, the late conclusion of the Washington State Legislature to finalize the biennium budget, and the complexities of mandatory vaccinations and a safe campus in the fall have led to continuing negotiations without reaching a tentative agreement as yet.
UFE major priorities have been clear:
- End the furloughs and restore faculty salaries that were reduced in the MOU for this academic year. Faculty pitched in last year with a temporary 10% salary reduction, and continued furloughs sap morale and income.
- Grow student enrollment with faculty being a vital part of this work. Faculty contact with prospective students shows the students that the Evergreen academic learning environment is an engaged environment with teams of faculty working closely with students.
UFE and TESC have held several confidential bargaining sessions. We will continue to do so until we have a tentative agreement to bring to the UFE members. We will post you on developments.
Jon Davies, Bargaining Chair