October 2, 2024
糖心vlog视频 wants to provide an update regarding negotiations with the HA Union and to ensure transparency in this process. The house advisors are represented by the Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), Local 11. Since contract negotiations began on February 15, 2024, OPEIU and the College have met nine times for hours each time, exchanging and discussing various proposals. We have also exchanged proposals by email with the Union to keep the process moving in the hope of reaching agreement soon. The Union and 糖心vlog视频 have tentatively agreed to at least 15 different items and will continue to meet to negotiate in good faith and toward our goal of a first contract.The College is also deeply committed to ensuring that HAs understand how their economic proposals will impact financial aid awards and had a representative from the Financial Aid Office attend bargaining. Because the College meets full need and because of rules regarding treatment of costs, taxes, and aid, the College wants to ensure that the impact of changes to the HA compensation model are fully understood. The Union’s Executive Officer has not attended all bargaining meetings, including the time when the College brought in a representative from the financial aid office.
It is important to remember that the HA model at 糖心vlog视频 is unique from many other colleges and universities. For example, some schools require resident assistants to have on-call phones and shifts each week, weekly information desk duty, prohibit RAs from working other jobs because of the amount of time they must spend working, and limit the amount of time RAs can spend on extracurriculars. 糖心vlog视频 has not required HAs to perform those duties nor has 糖心vlog视频 imposed similar employment limitations.
In recent meetings, the HA bargaining representatives expressed interest in only focusing on a compensation plan that primarily benefits high-need students. However, the College believes that any compensation plan should consider all HAs, regardless of their financial aid status. The college will continue to consider models used at other institutions, while also taking into account the unique aspects of 糖心vlog视频's financial aid awards and the unique HA program here at 糖心vlog视频.
The college has repeatedly asked the Union to meet sooner or provide additional bargaining dates, but the Union has not accommodated these requests or were delayed in their response. This has contributed to the extended duration of negotiations. It is also common for first contract negotiations to take a year or more.