ITEM 120-106-R0903

 

TO:������������������ Board of Regents

 

FROM:� ����������� Sue Hill, Director

����������������������� Labor Relations and Personnel

 

RE:������������������ Approval of the tentative agreement with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Local 441

 

DATE:�������������� September 25-26, 2003


Attached is a summary of the tentative agreement with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 441.� The summary shows only the modifications to the prior agreement.� The entire agreement can be viewed on line at:� http://mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.asp.� This bargaining unit includes approximately 15 employees, who perform clerical, maintenance or ranch hand type duties working at the MSU-Bozeman Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City.�

 

There were few language changes and none are very substantive.� A caveat was added to the provision that gave employees who were off work, due to a workers� compensation leave of absence, 4 months of the employer contribution to group health insurance.� In the future, an employee will be required to wait 2 years before becoming eligible for this benefit for a second time.� An exception for employees who are called to active military service was added to the provision that stops the accrual of seniority when an employee goes on a leave of absence for more than 30 days.� In the event an arbitrator is needed to resolve a contract dispute, the parties agreed to request 7 names to choose from, up from 5 in the prior agreement.

 

The salary settlement with AFSCME Local 441 includes a 25 cent per hour increase for all bargaining unit employees, effective January 1, 2005.� This increase is consistent with House Bill 13.� The tentative agreement continues to endorse the Montana University System Achievement Program (MAP) and provides for .5% Achievement Pay, effective the last day of each fiscal year for employees who receive an overall performance rating of �exceeded expectations� or �met expectations�. �Employees who receive an overall performance rating of �did not meet expectations� are not eligible for Achievement Pay.

 

I recommend approval of the tentative agreement with AFSCME Local 441.� The bargaining unit has already ratified the agreement.