Welcome back! Updates and general meeting (1/12/2021 at 2 pm) (Originally emailed to faculty on 1/6/21)

Welcome back, colleagues! I’m writing today with some quick updates from your faculty union as we start winter term.

First, we are having another general meeting on Tuesday, 1/12/2021, from 2 – 3 pm, over Zoom. Please come for updates and action items. The meeting link will be forthcoming.

Second, over the break, the negotiating teams continued to exchange proposals and communication; our team has tried to find common ground with the administration, but we are still far apart on major issues, particularly with respect to compensation and benefits. The teams are meeting this Thursday, 1/7/2021, for the first time since the end of fall term. At next week’s general meeting, we hope to have additional bargaining updates.

Lastly, we recently learned that, on Christmas Eve, Oregon Tech’s administration filed a request for judicial review (effectively, an appeal) of last term’s unanimous decision from the Oregon Employment Relations Board that Oregon Tech committed unfair labor practices against us. We find this appeal to be an egregious waste of time and money, especially at a time when the university has furloughed staff and frozen faculty hiring.

Despite whatever challenges we face as a faculty this term, please know that your faculty union is working on your behalf and welcomes your input, support, and involvement. Again, please plan to attend our general meeting next Tuesday, 1/12/2021, at 2 pm. In the meantime, have a great first week of classes!

In solidarity,

Dr. Kari Lundgren, OT-AAUP Secretary
On behalf of the OT-AAUP Executive Committee

Dr. Sean St. Clair, President
Dr. Cristina Negoita, Vice President
Dr. Kari Lundgren, Secretary
Prof. Terri Torres, Treasurer
Prof. Andria Fultz, Portland-Metro At-Large Representative
Dr. Kyle Chapman, Klamath Falls At-Large Representative
Dr. Mark Clark, Immediate Past President