To keep COHE members updated on time-sensitive matters, I created a series of audio files (in mp3 format) last week. I now share these six files, which total about one-half hour, with all faculty. The links can be found here. You will need this document to follow that discussion. In this discussion, I refer to documents I provided earlier and this new one:
he_2011_librarian_compromise.pdf. If you have questions about this material, please contact your local COHE leadership. Please protect the sanctity of the bargaining process by sheltering this information from non-faculty, including administrators and others. Our rules allow us to share this information with members of the bargaining unit. However, it harms our ability to work on your behalf if you divulge our strategies to the other side. If you are not familiar with collective bargaining laws in South Dakota, I strongly recommend you listen to the audio files first. Then, the material I present in the paragraphs below will make more sense. It appears that the BOR staff will declare a negotiating impasse as we approach June 30, the end of our current contract. We do not agree that we are really at an impasse. We can continue to negotiate past the expiration date of our current contract without penalty to anyone. An impasse does NOT mean we would not have a contract. Instead, the current contract would continue in existence until we reach a negotiated agreement. However, once either side declares an impasse, the procedures I describe in the audio files must occur.
We have asked the BOR staff to delay declaring an impasse as we have at least two items (Non-renewal and Librarian rank) on which COHE can see some potential movement by each side. However, the BOR staff is insistent the negotiation process end and a new contract be in place by June 30, 2011. We have notified them of additional dates we are available to meet this summer. Over the last six months, COHE and BOR bargainers have met eight times, including a four-day marathon session in Chamberlain and Pierre. We think it is worthwhile to see the negotiations to the end. If the BOR staff imposes contractual conditions on us, it is likely we will return to the bargaining table in about a year for an entire new round of bargaining. We think we should continue the process to complete it now. |
