Here is the full text of the new contract. We will post this to the main part of the website soon, in its fully formatted version.

Bargaining Update

Since our last bargaining session, our lead negotiators had 3 sidebar discussions with the admin team’s negotiators to work on acceptable middle ground for all remaining non-economic topics. During bargaining Monday afternoon, we offered alternative ways that we can ensure extra work results in extra pay.

We remained focused on changes that articulate clear expectations from the beginning of an appointment and that outline meaningful remedies should those expectations be modified or increased.

We’ve proposed basic pre-promotion guidance so professorial faculty have the time and information to prepare their dossiers.

We’ve seen encouraging progress on modified teaching duties in the case of a new child entering the home, however have not been able to agree on similar accommodations for faculty who may need to care for a dying loved one.

We have so far agreed to extend multi-year contracts to research professorial faculty, however the administration has balked at extending similar job security to senior instructors and senior lecturers.

Next Session

We will continue our conversations on Thursday 11-3 in the Levis Faculty Center when we expect the administration’s comprehensive counter-proposal on all remaining non-economic topics. All members are welcome to attend.

• Thursday June 20 (tomorrow!)
• 11am-3pm
• Levis Faculty Center, room 300

In Solidarity

Marisa Peacock (she/her)

NTFC Communications Chair

Bargaining Update

Today, we went through our concerns with the admin team’s last proposal, and had a useful conversation about our priorities and why they matter. We read a written statement from a bargaining unit member who was non-reappointed this year with no explanation or justification, despite receiving strong teaching evaluations and making substantial contributions to their department. Our lead negotiators made strong arguments for priorities such as wages, modified teaching duties, PI status, and protections from overwork.

Our lead negotiators had a sidebar discussion with the admin team’s negotiators to discuss potential next steps for proposals, which will continue next month and will determine the next steps for bargaining.

Survey for Members

As we focus on our strongest priorities, we will send a survey to determine which of these priorities are of the highest importance to NTFC members. Please watch for an email next week. It’s crucial to reach a deal that truly improves conditions for specialized faculty, so your participation in the survey will be integral to deciding our bargaining strategy going forward.

Next Session

At the next session, we will continue negotiations, as per sidebar conversations. All members are welcome to come.

• Date, Time, Location: TBD (will be in mid to late June)

In Solidarity

Theresa Dobbs (she/her)

NTFC President

Bargaining Update

At our last session, the admin team agreed to come to today’s session with a response to our proposal.

And indeed, they brought a response. But it wasn’t what we expected. We were disappointed to read a document that is nearly identical to their previous proposal, and does not meaningfully engage with most of the items in our most recent proposal. Here is where their proposal stands on some key topics:

1. Wages: Identical to their previous proposal, with one tiny exception. This was a small increase to the one-time salary increases associated with a promotion. This increased their total economic package by less than 0.3%. They still have the salary floor at $51,500 and a 1% merit pool for raises. Compression adjustment is still woefully small. There was essentially no movement on wages.
2. PI Status: They did not accept our language about allowing all specialized faculty with a terminal research degree and job duties including research to serve as PI’s. Instead, they suggest that faculty apply for PI status under the existing Eligibility to Serve as a Principal Investigator (PI) Policy. They added the phrase that requests for PI status “shall not be unreasonably denied.”
3. Modified Teaching Duties: After we informed the admin team that Research (Assistant/Associate) Professors have duties that include teaching classes, the admin team updated their proposal to include them in the Modified Teaching Duties policy. (Senior/Principal) Instructors and Lecturers are still excluded from the policy, in the admin team’s proposal. And they are still excluding death and terminal illness of a close family member, and only including childbirth and adoption.
4. Research Funding, Expanding Multiyear Contracts, Gender Affirming Care, Combating Overwork: No meaningful changes or engagement with our proposal.

In our most recent proposal, we demonstrated our willingness to compromise. We took into account the conversations in bargaining, as well as the admin team’s proposal. Our second proposal is quite different from our first proposal. Yet their second proposal is nearly identical to their first one. Why are they so unwilling to compromise?

Our lead negotiators, Rachel and Dani, strongly advocated for our members as they questioned the admin’s rationale in omitting the protections and benefits in our proposal. 

At the next session, we will bring a response to the admin team’s proposal on Article IX: Benefits and Leaves. We also anticipate that we will sign a tentative agreement on Article IV: Union Membership and Union Activity.

Take Action – Email the Provost

It will only take around 10 seconds– follow the link to send a pre-filled email message to the Provost’s Office (or edit it/write your own, if you want), telling them that NTFC– as well as our fellow campus unions AFSCME 698, AFSCME 3700, and SEIU 73– deserve a fair contract!

Next Session

At the next session, we will bring a response to the admin team’s proposal on Article IX: Benefits and Leaves. We also anticipate that we will sign a tentative agreement on Article IV: Union Membership and Union Activity. All members are welcome to come.

• Friday, May 24, 9am-12pm
• Location: Illini Union Ballroom

In Solidarity

Theresa Dobbs (she/her)

NTFC President