It is common knowledge that contract negotiations deal with salaries and other terms and conditions of employment.
But, often, the two sides come to an agreement on conceptual issues that are inherently less cut-and-dried, and are best implemented at the individual campuses. In these instances, the issues agreed to at the bargaining table are later “memorialized” in letters, according to UUP President Phillip Smith.
Two such agreements negotiated as part of the 2007-2011 Agreement Between the State of New York and United University Professions deal with accommodating family care needs and addressing the financial burden on new academic employees who have to wait for their first paycheck.
“UUP and the state agree that anything SUNY can do to address family care needs and remove financial burdens will make for a happier, more productive employee,” Smith said.
The following is the full text of a letter from SUNY to campuses:
“During the course of negotiations for the 2007-2011 Agreement, UUP raised concerns involving family leave and the balance between the demands of work and family responsibilities. Such issues impact employees throughout their entire career cycle and may differ widely from employee to employee.
“Issues range from child-rearing, child care to spousal care or elder care issues. Employees are often confronted with the need to balance the many, sometimes, competing, priorities of their employment and personal lives.
“While maintaining SUNY’s level of excellence and competitiveness in higher education, we should also be aware of the need to find balance between personal/family life and the professional life. A culture of supporting employees in a manner consistent with their employment obligations when the responsibilities of family life are particularly demanding may help employees balance their work/life commitments.
“In that regard, and as fulfillment of a commitment made at the negotiations table, this letter serves the purpose of encouraging campuses to recognize the importance to employees of a flexible approach to accommodating family care needs.”
The following is the full text of a second letter to campuses:
“During the course of negotiations for the 2007-2011 Agreement, the parties again discussed UUP’s concern over the period of time that elapses between the start of a new academic employee’s professional obligation and such employee’s receipt of the first payroll check. This has been an ongoing concern that many campuses have addressed through local arrangements with new academic employees who might otherwise experience some level of financial hardship.
“The purpose of this letter is to fulfill our commitment to UUP that we would strongly encourage all campuses to assist new academic employees who request help in the meeting of financial obligations while awaiting issuance of their first payroll check.”
— Karen L. Mattison