The Labor Management meeting started with introductions and appreciation for timely response to follow up emails from the last meeting. Here are some things that came up.

Follow up items: 

Pre 2025 Reclassification Data: We had requested statistics on staff reclassification at the November meeting. Management provided data only for 2025 (2 successful applications and 1 unsuccessful application). At this meeting, they told us that before 2025, Central ran our HR and they did not keep reclassification data, so they are assuming this data is lost.

Some coworkers still have not had their job descriptions updated, something we have brought up before. Up to date job descriptions are needed for reclassification and are important for all affected by management’s new restructuring plan. Management said that HR was in the process of reviewing job descriptions (although case-by-case when managers reach out) and will share a template for developing new job descriptions and for updating outdated job descriptions with managers.

Hiring laborers at 2026 Commencement: Members raised concerns about being asked to carry heavy boxes at commencement (to the location and inside of the space). Management requested 3 laborers from Central and are waiting for a response from Central. Management will update PSC as soon as they hear back from Central. They said that the request includes carrying boxes inside the space, not just to and from.

Mandatory Title VI Training: At the last LM meeting, members raised concerns about the mandatory Title VI training and issues raised by PSC Academic Freedom Committee including infringement on academic freedom protections. No action had been taken by management, so we brought it to the table again. Our ask continues to be that management meet with the president of the Graduate Center to push pausing the training until it is redesigned to reflect the spirit of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and not infringe on academic freedom. Management said that they will talk to the president of the Graduate Center.

New Items

Reorganization Plan: Members raised concerns about SLU’s reorganization plan including that management bypassed the governance procedures outlined in the bylaws, including review by the Personnel and Budget Committee and the Academic Governance Council (a grievable issue). In addition, a new non-union management position is proposed, shifting academic labor towards a corporatization model. There are concerns about the new Navigator role and its overlap with advisors and other existing positions. The emphasis on partner satisfaction was a red flag for many. The programs bundled together are like apples and oranges. The plan reinstitutes the soup-to-nuts model that staff had rejected in previous years. Faculty were further concerned that they are excluded from the Council on Student Success.  Members are demanding that management pause the process, engage in a community-wide town hall meeting and share the revised reorganization plan with the SLU community after engagement with all impacted parties.

Management clarified that partner satisfaction does not mean letting partners influence the curriculum. They mentioned a new unit focused on undergraduate studies, which so far is TBD as far as details and hiring. Management underscored that there was room to tweak the plan – which members pointed out was insufficient, as well as similar to other times top-down plans were rolled out. Management did say that no one will be let go. They said that the town hall/forum was premature and that they would talk to the affected staff first. After our insistence, they agreed to a town hall later this semester, and that they would provide us with a date.

Waterbug Infestation: Members raised concerns about a waterbug infestation on the 10th floor. SLU’s Health and Safety committee will meet with management on 3/17/ 2026 to discuss a pest remediation plan for the 10th floor.

Technology, Surveillance, and Privacy Issues: Members raised concerns about the new policy that institutes the use of body worn cameras by Peace Officers on campus. Members were also concerned about the impact cameras have on privacy, protesters, and the wider SLU community. Members highlighted the uniqueness of SLU’s population which includes minors. Management agreed to get more information from Central on what is FOILable, especially when it comes to minors.

Members also raised concerns about Zoom AI settings that are automatically locked in the ON setting. Even when it is possible to turn these settings off for each specific zoom meeting, it sets up potential for inadvertent AI meeting summaries, which have been shown to contain inaccuracies, and which can be inadvertently shared with meeting participants. This raises HR concerns, FERPA and student privacy issues and other concerns including mis-pronouning individuals and general inaccuracies. Management agreed to arrange a meeting with IT and PSC to discuss this issue further.

The next Labor Management meeting will take place on April 22nd from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Zoom and is open to all PSC members. All PSC members at SLU are encouraged to participate in the school-wide union meeting which will be held on Friday, March 27 12pm-1:30pm and the planning meeting for the April 22nd Labor Management meeting will be held the week of April 20th; exact dates and times will be emailed to the listserv well in advance of the meetings. The labor management meeting is our opportunity to bring our issues to management. There are still several outstanding items from the last meeting. For example, concerns about SLU’s reorganization plan, mandatory Title VI training, and technology, surveillance and privacy concerns– issues must be addressed.