The first SPH union meeting of the year was attended by about 16 PSC members. We began by reviewing the issues brought up in the past labor management meetings, which include intellectual property, open meeting law interpretation, release time, HEO positions not filled, lack of clarity in the HEO reclassification process, remote work, and morale. We talked at length about continuing issues with low morale at the school, the top down nature of the school, fear of retaliation, and the silos that faculty and staff are in. We discussed the outstanding request for information on reclassification that management has not fulfilled and the need to press for that information. Next steps are scheduling the labor management meeting for December and using the new contractual provisions to place a union-selected member on the HEO Screening Committee.

We also shared information about the new health plan, which the union is concerned about due to lack of detailed information on what it’s going to look like past year one. More info here and upcoming webinars for members. We shared information about PSC immigrant solidarity work, the fight to reinstate the Fired Four, defending research funding, and gender and sexuality justice organizing.