At this reopener, UFF-USF-GAU is planning to open the following articles: 10 (Appointments and Leave), 12 (Tuition and Fees), and 23 (Stipends).
The following document contains the articles in their entirety, including the proposed changes to be presented at the table (PDF): oct-14-bargaining-table-document
Below is a summary of the specific parts of the articles that UFF-USF-GAU intends to modify.
Article 10 (Appointments and Leave)
Supplemental Appointments – get rid of line in 10.4A(2) specifying the deadline.
(2) The award of release time shall not reduce the workload obligation of a teaching assistant below 10 hours per week. The award of release time shall not reduce the workload obligation of a graduate assistant below 5 hours per week. Release time may be granted in addition to the graduate assistant’s normal appointment. The award of a supplemental appointment shall not push the graduate assistant’s total workload beyond 0.74FTE. This provision shall expire at the end of Fall semester 2016.
In 10.5A, propose 16 weeks instead of 6 weeks.
A. Graduate assistants shall be eligible for six (6) sixteen (16) weeks of unpaid leave from their employment responsibilities during any 12-month period for one of more of the following reasons:
5A(4) typo. Comma should be a period.
(4) A serious health condition of the graduate assistant which makes the GA unable to perform his or her essential job duties.,
Propose striking 10.5F out ENTIRELY
10.5 Unpaid Leave
F. A GA must be in at least a second semester of employment as a graduate assistant to be eligible for this leave provisio
Article 12 (Tuition and Fees)
Addition of “100% of the tuition and fees cost associated with…”
12.2 Tuition Payment Program.
A. The University and the UFF-USF-GAU will continue to seek legislative funding to meet the costs associated with the matriculation and tuition payment program. A graduate assistant appointment shall result in eligibility for the tuition payment program. Tuition payment shall be for at least the minimum number of credit hours necessary to maintain the graduate assistantship. Tuition payment shall be for 100% of the tuition and fees cost associated with at least the minimum number of credit hours necessary to maintain the graduate assistantship. If sufficient funds are not available to provide all graduate assistants with such tuition payment, first consideration for receipt of these payments shall be given to graduate assistants who are employed for .25 FTE or more for at least one semester during the prior academic year and who are students in good standing. If sufficient funds are not available to provide all graduate assistants with such tuition payment, then the University shall notify the GA with a financial statement that details why their tuition payment could not be provided.
Article 23
Stipends
If USF does not cover fees, our rebuttal will be 23.1.C, same language on a cash bonus proposed last time.
23.1 Minimum Stipend. The minimum stipend shall be as follows:
A. Effective beginning with the Fall 2017 Semester: For students at the masters level, each nine-month employee (19.5 pay periods) on a .50 FTE appointment shall be guaranteed a minimum stipend of $10,540 13,000. Appointments greater or less than .50 FTE shall be paid at a stipend rate representing a proportion of this minimum as determined by the fractional FTE appointment and the budgeted weeks of activity.
B. Effective beginning with the Fall 2017 Semester: For students at the doctoral level, each nine-month employee (19.5 pay periods) on a .50 FTE appointment shall be guaranteed a minimum of $12,600 13,000. Appointments greater or less than .50 FTE but no less than .25 FTE shall be paid at a stipend rate representing a proportion of this minimum as determined by the fractional FTE appointment and the budgeted weeks of activity.
Health Insurance
100% coverage of the health insurance premiums and add dental coverage.
23.2 Employer Contribution to Health Insurance
A. With an effective date beginning of Fall 2017 semester, the University agrees to continue to pay the health insurance premiums for graduate students appointed at a 0.25 FTE or greater who elect coverage under the USF Student Health Insurance Plan.
B. With an effective date beginning of Fall 2017 semester, the University shall provide dental coverage for members of the bargaining unit appointed at a 0.25 FTE or greater who elect coverage.
Initial Pay Period
23.4 Initial Payment. Employees who have turned in paperwork in a timely manner shall receive their first paycheck not later than four (4) two (2) weeks after the first day of the term of their contract. In the case of administrative error by the University and the employee is not paid on time, the University shall make a reasonable effort to provide the paycheck to the employee within one (1) week of notification of the error.