Members Approve Agreement
http://www.ura-aft.org/contract/120209agreement.pdf
Nov. 30 URA-AFT members approved a memorandum of agreement deferring raises in exchange for layoff protection.
Key Points of the Agreement
Salary package
Deferral of July 1, 2009 5% salary increases to July 1, 2010. The economic package for this year will be changed from 1.5% across-the-board and 3.5% merit to 2.5% across-the-board and 2.5% merit; minimum and maximum of each salary grade change will increase 2.5%.
Deferral of July 1, 2010 4% salary increases to June 16, 2011.
Comparison of original contract to MOA
This chart shows that this MOA provides for raise deferrals. We will get raises, but at a later date than in our original contract. It also shows the impact on the salary grades. Note: ATB = across-the-board.
| July 1, 2009 | July 1, 2010 | June 16, 2011 | ||
| Original Contract | 5% (1.5% ATB/3.5% merit) | 4% (2% ATB/2% merit) | ||
| Salary grades move | 1.5% | 2% | ||
| Revised MOA | 5% (2.5% ATB/2.5% merit) | 4% (2% ATB/2% merit) | ||
| Salary grades move | 2.5% | 2% | ||
Job security
No layoff pledge: no employee shall be laid off from date of ratification of agreement through January 1, 2011. Grant funded employees may be terminated if there is a lack of funding.
If any employee is laid off in violation of the pledge the case will go directly to binding arbitration.
In addition, if the university violates the no layoff pledge, all employees will be given the raises originally provided in the 2007-2011 agreement, although they would not be retroactive.
Paid leave bank
URA-AFT members receive a paid leave bank of four days; which can be used after July 1, 2010. The four days can be carried over without the restrictions typically applied to administrative leave, personal holidays or vacation days. Any or all paid leave bank days can be used or held until separation from the university then cashed out.
Pension protection
Union and management will work to include RU employees in legislation which currently protects State PERS members who deferred raises. Both PERS and ABP members who reach the top of their ranges will benefit from the additional percentage shifted from merit to across-the-board and the resulting increase to the grades.
Use of vacation days upon layoff
URA-AFT members laid off before June 30, 2011 will be able to cash out accumulated vacation time beyond five days to use as a severance package or to bank in case they return to the university.
