3:38pm: Bargaining will start by discussing Article 34. The University wants to be notified about changes to our dues form on the 15th of the month prior to the time the changes go into effect. They also would like to discuss Article 10, Section 1. The University wants to add that GTFs have a mutual responsibility for cleaning up GTF workspaces. Presumably because the University wants to be able to scold GTFs when spaces go without the kind of maintenance any worker might hope to have in their workspaces.
3:46pm: The University also wants to add that the University should not be required to provide for health and safety beyond University workspaces. We are concerned that there is no language in place for a GTF to report being forced to work in an unsafe space.
3:49pm: The University misread the our proposal to require safe workspaces. Apparently they thought that this would require them to fly in and transform any non-University spaces in which a GTF was working. All we want is to not be required to work in unsafe spaces. Ever heard of parsimony? Or argumentative charity? Or reading?
3:58pm: Now Fancy Lawyer is talking about "GFTs." Graduate Fellow Teachers?
4:04pm: We are discussing grievance steps. The University would prefer the President not to have to dirty his hands with personally attending meetings and wants to deny GTFs from moving to this stage. Of course, this could leave a GTF's livelihood hanging on the line, but won't somebody think of the poor President?
4:15pm: Just had a long discussion about financial policies and their relationship to the state archivist.
4:18pm: We are concerned about the University giving the President the final word on contracts rather than the Board of Trustees, which is usually the body that deals with contracts. You're the king? Well I didn't vote for you.
4:20pm: Now we're digging into numbers. The University is reporting increases to the healthcare trust and say that this is "unsustainable." Maybe like a top-heavy university structure? They are saying that premium increases must be kept to no more than increases of 10%. Left out of the picture, as always, is the immense wealth that the University is sitting upon as they speak.
4:25pm: Fancy Lawyer said that the GTFF has the power to add healthcare plans in contrast to the helpless University. And that is their justification for capping trust increases at 10%. By using this rhetoric, are they admitting and committing to the GTFF having the ability to pick up Major Dental without their authorization? In previous bargaining sessions, we were given a flat-out "NO" on this idea, but now apparently (according to their language) it is us who have the power to say "YES."
4:31pm: We have been discussing more numbers. The University is saying that increasing wages and adding major dental is unsustainable. We are asking where all the revenue from the UO Foundation endowment (most recently $553 million, a 13.8% annual return) goes.
4:38pm: The University is claiming that it both has a deficit and a surplus, and that the surplus will be used to fill the deficit, with money left over. So wouldn't that make this...a surplus?
4:45pm: The University side of the table has no idea what their "Unrestricted Gifts and Royalties" are being used for, which in 2013 was $2,177,408 with a $1,214,700 increase in one year. The maintenance of the University's Jaqua Center was also $2,753,225 in 2013, and we are wondering who is paying for that. The University, as always, does not know where this is coming from (for example, to what extent Academics is paying for the Jock Box). In any case, we can be rest assured that none of these magical, mysterious funds will be used for root canals.
4:52pm: Here's a big one. The University said earlier (incorrectly) that our healthcare and living wages will cost 1.7 million for the University to cover. But this depends on assuming that ALL GTFs will receive the same wage. All the GTFF wants to do is bring wages up to a living standard, so not all wages would be adjusted the same rate.
4:54pm: Hence, the GTFF found that the price for GTF living wages in 2014-2015 would actually run around $316,340. Coincidentally, the University President's Skybox Office in Autzen Stadium costs $375,000 every year! We could give grads living wages for less than UO is paying to give the President a shiny football office!
5pm: The GTFF is reporting that we could cover BOTH living wages AND major dental for FAR LESS than the unrestricted funds given to academics. Increasing GTFs' wages and adding major dental will cost UNDER $1 million with room to spare.
5:01pm: "The purpose of this university is academics and research...I would encourage you to look for the money." -- Our organizer, who is getting paid a fraction of this lawyer's salary to wipe the floor with him.
5:02pm: Caucus beginning with the full room of GTFs applauding for our organizer. The room is packed with GTFs who are upset about the University privileging the most frivolous aspects of administration and Athletics over the lives of GTFs and the academic work they contribute to this campus.
5:26pm: We were just informed by UO during our caucus that we have the room until 5:45pm, NOT 6:30pm as we projected, and were told to hurry our caucus along.
5:33pm: Bargaining is continuing, and we are asking what their "GTF maintenance responsibility" clause will specifically involve. They are mentioning taking care of your own foodstuffs in the fridge and having rotations where people might agree to rotate responsibility. We are concerned about GTF workspaces in which GTFs have to clean and dust without compensation, and we are worried that this language will be used to require GTFs to do unpaid cleaning work beyond their cleaning their own foodstuffs. We are going to revisit this issue later to provide specific examples where GTFs are forced to work in unreasonably dirty work-spaces beyond their own responsibilities for care.
5:43pm: They are now talking about the healthcare article and the University's assertion that the cost of the trust will go up by "41% in two years." The members of the GTFF trust fund are confused because this does not match their numbers, and are wondering about how the University arrived at this percentage.
5:45pm: The University does not know how they arrived at this 41% projected figure for healthcare increases. They are using a system of "fiscal years" and making projections based on years with higher expenses. We are looking forward to viewing their specific data. We are concerned that they are incorrectly assuming costs will inevitably continue in this way.
5:52pm: They are accusing the GTFF Trust of not making moves to keep price increases below 10%. We are saying that discussing Major Dental at the table is a move of good faith to discuss healthcare increases with the University, and that the GTFF has encouraged the trust to maintain caution with healthcare cost increases.
5:57pm: We are planning to discuss wages next time. University side of the table says that getting major dental coverage makes no difference if cap prices are the same. People who need root canals beg to differ.
5:58pm: Bargaining has ended. Thank you to the GTFF table team and everyone who showed up, and see you next week!
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