This is a reminder about the mail ratification process for Article 23 that was negotiated on December 18, 2020 along with some updates.
Information on the Article?
All information about Article 23 and its various versions are available on the UFF-UCF Bargaining page. Please take special note of the version with track changes if you want to see what was added and removed from previous versions. The final version is also located on that page.
Why Mail Ratification?
Recently, we have ratified MOUs through online ratifications. To do that we needed a wavier from Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC). Online ratifications and elections are prohibited by various labor governing bodies. We have been getting exemptions because of the pandemic but we can only apply for an exemption when we have something to ratify. The process for an exemption can take 6-8 weeks and there is no guarantee that PERC will approve our request. Thus the quickest way to ratify this article is through mail ballot since we cannot ratify in person on campus and include people who have an exemption from returning to campus in the spring. Mail ratification is the only way to include everyone in the bargaining unit. In future should the pandemic continue and we need to ratify articles unrelated to financial payments to our Bargaining Unit we will return to PERC for such permission for online ratifications.
Article 23 Ratification Town Hall
We will host an Article 23 Ratification Town Hall meeting on Zoom on Monday January 11 at 7pm. This is not related to the Full Book Town Hall meeting this week. The Ratification Town Hall meeting will only address any wording related to the article that needs to be cleared up so you can make an informed decision when you vote. We are prohibited from speaking or hosting a discussion of how you should vote, this is only to clear up language. For a link to this Town Hall please email me and I will send you the Zoom information. If you cannot attend or have questions related or unrelated to language please email me Robert Cassanello at president@uffucf.org.
Mail Ballots
Mail ballots are in the mail and I expect everyone to receive them by the end of this week. By Monday January 11th if you have not received your ballot please email me and I will send you a replacement ballot. If you have moved recently and your MyUCF was not updated or unsure if I have the correct address for you then contact me. If you are staying somewhere other than your home address contact me with your current address. You can email me Robert Cassanello at president@uffucf.org.
Original Announcement Mail Ratification for Article 23 from 12-28-2020
This is the official announcement that we will be having a mail ratification for Article 23, recently bargained by the UFF-UCF Bargaining Team. I will send out reminder announcements out as well in the new year. I ask that you look over the tentative agreement for Article 23:Salaries. If you go to our website under “Proposals for 2020-2021 Negotiations” you will see the previous versions of this proposal so you can see what is different from past iterations. If you have any questions please let me know and I will address them. On January 11th at 7pm we will host a Townhall on Zoom to answer questions about the wording of Article 23 if you would like some clarification before you cast your ballot, open to anyone in the bargaining unit whether a member of the union or not. Details for how to join the Townhall will be forthcoming in a future announcement.
On December 18, 2020, the United Faculty of Florida at UCF and the UCF Board of Trustees reached tentative agreement on Article 23: Salaries. Faculty will now vote whether to ratify this tentative agreement. The entire Bargaining Unit is eligible to vote, whether a member of the union or not. Again, this vote is open to all 1,652 faculty in the bargaining unit, regardless of whether you are a dues-paying member. This ratification vote will be mail-in only.
If a majority vote “yes,” the article will be adopted immediately upon ratification by UCF’s Board of Trustees.
If a majority vote “no,” bargaining teams for both sides will return to the bargaining table and continue negotiating.
Ballots will be mailed to your home address on January 6, included will be the instructions, ballot, a smaller ballot envelope and a self addressed stamped envelope to our PO Box. Please verify that your home address is accurate in my.ucf, if it is not please email me your updated mailing address. Also, please update your address in my.ucf. Dr. Nina Orlovskaya, the Elections Committee Chair, will open the PO Box to collect envelopes at 5:00 p.m. on Wedenday, January 27 at the Oviedo Post Office, 83 Geneva Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765. The ballots will be counted on the same day at the Holiday Inn, Sapphire Ballroom 1724 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32826 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. All faculty (including both dues-paying members and non-members) or representatives thereof are welcome to attend and observe the process. We will follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19, so plan to wear a face mask and observe physical distancing during ballot counting.
Improperly submitted ballots will be reviewed by the Elections Committee Chair, and each will receive a written explanation as to whether it was counted, not counted, or not counted with contingency.
Preface: Since April 2020, the UFF-UCF have been negotiating Article 23 Salaries on your behalf. UFF has fought for wage increases, additional excellent awards for research, and for clarification regarding administrative salary stipends. Our salary proposals are available online at our website uffucf.org. The audio and Zoom recordings are available at collective collectivebargaining.ucf.edu, or you may request them from the administration, cpiper@ucf.edu.
This BOT team’s proposal is the first one that has any monetary compensation, a one-time payment of $1,200. Below is a summary and rationale for the ratification of Article 23 Salaries.
Article 23 – Salaries
Summary: 23.3(b) Provides for a $1,200 one-time payment to be distributed 1/29/2021 to Bargaining Unit Members employed since 6/20/2020 and who earn Satisfactory or above on their 2019-2020 annual evaluation. No permanent salary increase is included and only one Research Excellence university award will continue to be available.
Rationale: Ratifying this agreement will conclude salary negotiations for 2019-2020, and offers some financial compensation to all members of the Bargaining Unit during a time of economic contraction owed to a global pandemic.
Timeline
Official announcement for mail ratification December 28th (Periodic reminders to follow)
Ballots mailed out January 6th
Town Hall on January 11 at 7pm-registration information TBA
Ballots due by January 27th-5pm
Ballot Counting Meeting January 27 at Holiday Inn, 6-8:30 pm
Notify UCF of results January 28 at 9am
