On Thursday, September 24, 2015, contract negotiations concluded when the APA reached a tentative agreement with the administration of Michigan State University for a successor APA contract valid through September 30, 2019. As with most collective bargaining, neither management nor labor obtained everything sought at the commencement of negotiations.
Responding to the information and data from APA membership surveys (https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-F5PNYQ9C) and input provided through member engagement events, emails, and phone calls, the APA Bargaining Team entered negotiations with proposals on nearly 30 different contractual items.
A brief recap is as follows:
The APA was successful in fighting off University proposals on topics such as:
- Attacks on job security
- Total elimination of current Longevity Pay program
- Harmful changes to the evaluation process
- Increasing merit pay to 100% of your annual base wage increase which could prevent members from receiving any base wage increase any year at the exclusive discretion of your immediate supervisor/department
The APA is proud to have negotiated:
- Greater protections from discrimination in the workplace
- Maternity/Paternity leave planning enhancement through increased vacation maximum accrual rates for new employees
- Increase of maximum accrued sick leave bank to 1,400 hours
- Maintained fully funded Aetna DMO dental coverage (no changes to Delta Dental plan)
- Improved professional development to allow for use of annual $800 for off campus and college credit bearing courses
- Enhanced job security for all members and additional rights for off-date employees who are subject to layoff
- Maintained current 40% across the board and 60% merit pay process for annual base wage increases unless the total base wage increase is 1% or less in which case the annual base wage increase will be applied 100% across the board
- Protected 403(b) retirement fund contributions for employees who began at MSU on or after July 1, 2010 who are no longer eligible for post retirement health care benefits
Additionally, your APA Bargaining Team pursued key issues members brought to attention:
- Paid paternity/maternity leave and short term disability benefits
- Improved dental coverage
- Additional objective criteria to determine the merit portion of the annual APA base wage increase
- Parking rate equity for members working at the MSU Secchia Center
After notice of the tentative agreement was provided to the APA membership, information sessions were held on campus in East Lansing, as well as at the CHM Grand Rapids. Members who attended delved into the issues and had productive dialogue.
Balloting for the 2015 – 2019 APA Tentative Agreement ratification concluded on October 13, 2015, at 4pm.
In total, 702 members cast a ballot. 639 (91%) cast a ballot in favor of ratification with 63 (9%) in opposition. Therefore, the contract was officially ratified by the APA membership.
As soon as possible, the ratified contract will be printed and copies made available to APA members. Additionally, an electronic version will be posted on the APA website.
The APA greatly appreciates the comments that were provided leading into and during negotiations and membership questions and engagement around the tentative agreement ratification.
For further information or to ask questions, please contact the APA at [email protected] or at 517.999.4004.