LEO VP not re-appointed! Target of anti-Union seniment?

Dear LEO members:

Normally Kirsten Herold would be sending you this update. However, on March 31, after 18 years of teaching at the University, Kirsten was dismissed by the English Department. We see this action as a direct attack on the union, since Kirsten is our VP, but also because it is an attack on our job security.

Ironically, this relates directly to this round of bargaining, as we try to strengthen the protections we have negotiated in the past to prevent unfair, biased and outright bogus evaluations.  On Friday as we sat at the bargaining table, we told the Administration that their treatment of her is the exact reason we have concerns about the transparency of the review process.

Today was a black day. The bargaining team wore LEO t-shirts and black arm bands.  We rallied at noon outside the fishbowl, and then marched to the offices of the Chair of the English Department (vacant), the Dean of LSA (vacant) and the Provost (vacant). We will continue to protest the action of the English Department. We cannot accept that our VP, who is also our chief grievance officer and a member of our bargaining team, has been fired while we are involved in negotiations.

In the afternoon, the Administration provided us with their counter proposals on raises, minimum salaries and the health benefits package. They “generously” increased their Ann Arbor annual raise offer from 1.5% to 1.75%, and they offered no increases in minimum starting salaries. In terms of benefits, they offered our part timers a small bribe. The amount they put across the table was less than they offered other unions as a way of “mitigating” the huge impact of their benefits package. Our response was to reject their proposals as laughable. We also put them on notice about our teach-in and rally plans for next week.

We are asking members to take 10 minutes of class time on Wednesday and Thursday to explain the current work conditions of Lecturers at U of M. Our lesson plans will be
on our website by the end of the weekend.

You may receive an email from your supervisor telling you that you cannot participate in a teach-in. We disagree.  This affects our work environment, which in turn affects students. We believe we are protected by the AAUP academic freedom policy, which was reinforced by SACUA earlier this year.  

If you are unhappy with the Administration’s proposals, your only option at this point is to make some NOISE! Come to the Rally. Participate in the teach-in. Come to bargaining on Friday.

See the LEO web site for additional information and updates: http://www.leounion.org

For coverage of recent the LEO rally protesting recent events, see the sidebar.

Bonnie Halloran
LEO President