ATSLA-UAW Initial Bargaining Goals
We, the elected Bargaining Committee of ATSLA-UAW, present the following set of Initial Bargaining Goals, to be voted on and ratified by all faculty and staff members of NYFA – Los Angeles. These Initial Bargaining Goals reflect the results of the bargaining survey along with countless conversations the Bargaining Committee members have had with fellow faculty and staff members, and represent a comprehensive overview of our demands that we want to make progress on in bargaining. Specific contract proposals will come later in the process.
These demands aim to enhance our ability to serve the NYFA student body as teachers and support staff, improve the lives and working conditions of employees during our time at NYFA, and transform the Administration’s relationship with the employees of NYFA’s Los Angeles campus.
1. Establish Fair Wages and Salaries
Increase compensation to recruit and retain a diverse and professional workforce, raising salary and hourly minimums for each job title to better reflect the rising cost of living. Guarantee annual pay increases for all faculty and staff members.
2. Job Security
Increase protections against unjust discipline and discharge. Establish fair and transparent processes for navigating changes in status including furloughs, layoffs, and restructuring.
3. Reliable Schedules and Workloads
Establish sustainable, equitable, and consistent schedules and workloads that allow faculty and staff to earn a fair wage while accommodating other professional work. Increase protection around changes in course and shift scheduling, including cancellations and double-bookings.
4. Ensure Work Health and Safety
Ensure a safe and healthy work environment, including improvements to security practices, illness and disability accommodations, and wellness resources.
5. Restore Retirement Benefits
Improve access to retirement benefits, including reinstating employer contributions.
6. Involvement In Decision Making
Ensure all stakeholders, including faculty and staff, have agency in decision-making at the department, campus, and institutional levels. Ensure each office and department has governance over their annual budget.
7. Establish Affordable and Comprehensive Benefits
Expand access to medical, dental, and vision benefits to include all faculty and staff for better coverage, and reduce employee health care costs. Improve family leave benefits, establish family care benefits, and reduce the cost of dependent coverage. Expand access to other benefits, including life insurance and disability insurance.
8. Ensure Freedom from Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination
Protect faculty and staff against harassment, bullying, and discrimination in all forms. Improve protocols for handling disrespectful and abusive conduct, including timely grievance procedures. Create access to neutral and binding arbitration.
9. Improve Access to Paid Time Off and Leave
Expand access to and increase accrual of paid time off, including holidays, vacation time, personal time, and sick time for all employees. Guarantee access to additional leave types, such as family medical leave, parental leave, bereavement, and jury duty. Create consistent practices for professional development leave and establish paid sabbatical.
10. Designated Job Titles and Responsibilities
Ensure existing employees receive titles and ranks that appropriately reflect their experience and expertise. Ensure faculty and staff can advance their careers by establishing a clear and equitable pathway to advancement, including a fair and transparent process for promotions that encourages internal hiring. Ensure employees are not required to perform duties beyond clearly defined job responsibilities.
11. Academic Freedom
Ensure faculty and staff have the right to academic and artistic freedom within the professional setting at NYFA. Guarantee the faculty’s right to retain ownership of their intellectual property, including lesson plans and course materials.
12. Proper Access to Facilities and Materials
Ensure faculty and staff have access to materials and facilities necessary to perform their job duties, both on campus and off-site.