TO: Board of Regents

FROM: Sue Hill, Director, Labor Relations and Personnel

RE: Approval of Tentative Agreement with United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters

DATE: January 17-18, 2002

Attached is a summary of the tentative agreement reached with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. The summary only includes those sections of the agreement that were modified during this round of negotiations. The entire collective bargaining agreement is available on line at: https://www.mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.html.  The United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters represents approximately 22 employees at The University of Montana-Missoula, Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana State University-Billings. The bargaining unit has voted to ratify the tentative agreement.

The tentative agreement provides for a wage increase of 4% effective November 1, 2001, and an increase of 4% on November 1, 2002. The differential for foreman pay was increased from $1.00 above journeyman wages to $1.10. The new language on employer contributions to health insurance coverage cites state law.

Most of the language changes were initiated by the employer. The language regarding probationary periods was clarified to exclude service in a temporary position. A new provision was added referring to the states conflict of interest and ethical practices statutes. The times for initiating a grievance were tightened and a deadline was added for moving a grievance forward to a grievance committee. The limit on the length of a disciplinary suspension was increased from five to ten days and the language regarding duration of warning letters was modified. Under the prior language warning letters were to be removed from employees' personnel files after six months. The new language requires the removal of just the first warning letter. A concession made to the union was to pay foremen differential pay for assignments of eight or more hours in duration.

I recommend approval of the tentative agreement.

 

xc: Chancellor Sexton

President Dennison

President Gamble