May 31, 2013

Merit Will Be Distributed in July

The TAUP TU Collective Bargaining Agreement establishes a 1% merit pool (based on 1% of the base salaries of the collective bargaining unit)  for the 2011-2012 academic year.   Merit will be:

"Added to base salary on July 1, 2013, with no retroactivity.
To be eligible for merit, a faculty member must have completed an annual report for FY 2011-2012 by September 1, 2012."

The information is from the chart in Article 21, Section A of the TAUP/TU Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The result should be an increase in your monthly base salary of $50 per merit unit, starting with your July 31 paycheck.

TAUP expects to be notified of the number of units of merit distributed and to whom by June 30, 2013.

Feel free to contact TAUP if you have any other questions.

May 17, 2013

Temple hospital workers union asks for support: Protest Temple's refusal to honor arbitrator's decision

Temple Hospital workers union (District 1199C) is asking for support from all unionized employees at Temple to protest Temple's refusal to reinstate an employee despite an arbitrator's ruling in the employee's grievance case.

Please read the letter below, from Henry Nicholas, President, District 1199C, and attend a rally to support 1199c this Sunday, May 19 at 4PM at Broad and Ontario Streets.   A rally flyer is also attached.

From:   Henry Nicholas, President, District 1199C
Date:   May 16, 2013
Re:       Temple University Hospital
______________________________________________________________________________
            I am writing to make you aware of a situation that causes me great concern, and I believe should cause similar concern for all Unions at Temple, and public employee unions across the Commonwealth.  In April of last year, Temple terminated one of our members, a 31 year employee of TUH, allegedly for workplace harassment.  The Union grieved the termination, and when a resolution couldn't be reached, filed the case for arbitration.  At this point there was nothing alarming: reasonable parties can see a situation differently, and it is for that reason the arbitration article exists,  The case was heard in December by Arbitrator Richard Kasher, and an award returned at the end of March. 
            In his award, Arbitrator Kasher found that discipline was justified, based on conclusions he drew about the grievant's conduct, but that in light of all of the facts, including the grievant's long tenure at Temple and lack of prior discipline or counseling with regard to harassment, termination was too severe of a penalty.  As such, he directed TUH to reinstate our member, but without back pay, still imposing a severe discipline, but not upholding the discharge. 
            TUH has now seen fit to substitute its judgment for that of the arbitrator, and is refusing to reinstate our member.  Instead, they are seeking to have state courts vacate the arbitrators award.  This is something that our Union has never seen from Temple. 
            Under Act 195, collective bargaining agreements with public employers have mandatory arbitration which is supposed to be final and binding on both parties.  Apparently, Temple holds itself above the law, and in so doing, throws the credibility of the arbitration procedure into doubt.  What good is it as a dispute resolution mechanism if it is only binding on one side?
            District 1199C does not plan to sit by and quietly allow arbitration to be rendered meaningless.  We have scheduled a rally for 4 PM, Sunday, May 19th at Broad and Ontario.  We invite you and your members to join us in telling Temple that their actions completely change the landscape of labor relations, and we will not tolerate its attempt to unilaterally change our contract. 
            I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 215 735-1300 or email me at President1199c@aol.com.  You may also contact Executive Vice President Peter Gould at the same number or at peter.gould@1199cnuhhce.org.

May 2, 2013

PLRB Hearing on Department Chairs Postponed

The unit clarification hearing before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board concerning Temple’s petition to remove department chairs from the TAUP collective bargaining unit will not be held Friday, May 3, as originally scheduled.

By mutual agreement among the hearing examiner, Temple and TAUP, new hearing dates have been set for Tuesday, June 18, and Monday and Tuesday, June 24 and 25.  Even after these three days, it is unlikely that the hearing will be finished, as Temple has said it will call more than a dozen witnesses to testify.  More days will likely have to be scheduled for TAUP’s side of the case. The hearings will be held in Harrisburg.

 TAUP will keep you apprised of any further developments.

April 30, 2013

2013 Election of Officers, Executive
Committee Members, and Delegates

On February 4, the TAUP office sent you a flyer asking for nominations for candidates to run for office as Officers, Executive Committee Members and Delegates.  The 2013 TAUP Nominating Committee also worked hard seeking members to run for these positions.  As of the deadline for nominations, one person was nominated for each of the positions with the exception of the three 2- year Executive Committee seats..