When URA members received a top-down message attempting to mandate a unilateral change reducing Flexible Work Arrangements from two days remote per week to one, a clear response was warranted. Members (and some supportive faculty union allies) signed onto a letter calling for respect for our contract and filed a grievance.
The Flexible Work Arrangements process was negotiated to rely on the department needs assessment at the local level to determine our remote schedules. Our students, faculty and community have been well served working two days remote. By disregarding department needs, the mandate amounted to a show of disregard for URA members’ input into the process and disrespect for the contract.
The first step of our contractual grievance process is an informal attempt to solve the problem. “We were able to get management to understand that one standard remote schedule for the campus is not what the process intends and each department knows their operations best,” said URA President Christine O’Connell.
If you haven’t submitted your Flexible Work Arrangement application yet, please do so. Ask your supervisor to collaboratively create your department needs assessment with input from you and your colleagues.
Let us know if there are additional issues in denial or pressure to modify due to an external or management interference. Email union@ura-aft.org if you experience problems with the process or an attempt to diminish your Flexible Work Arrangement.
