SUMMARY OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATORS OF MONTANA #4610,

MEA-MFT, AFT, NEA, AFL-CIO

AND

MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Change the 2001-2003 collective bargaining agreement as follows.

1.1                PREAMBLE

This agreement is entered into by the Board of Regents of Higher Education, hereinafter referred to as the employer, and the Vocational‑Technical Educators of Montana #4610, MEA-MFT, AFT, NEA, AFL‑CIO, hereinafter referred to as the union.

2.1.B. BARGAINING UNIT

The bargaining unit covered by this agreement shall include all instructional faculty members teaching courses in programs administered by a College of Technology in Billings, Butte or Great Falls with a .5 FTE or greater annual appointment (nine (9) or more credits in programs administered by the College of Technology per semester) and who are employed for both terms of the academic year. A part-time instructor may not, however, obtain bargaining unit status because of teaching courses in programs administered by more than one College of Technology. Individuals appointed for a single semester are excluded from the bargaining unit. Instructional related, non-teaching professional employees are excluded from the bargaining unit. The term "faculty member" as used in this agreement means a member of the bargaining unit.

9.4 LAYOFF

b. If the laid-off faculty member applies for an open position within the bargaining unit at any College of Technology covered by this agreement, and the position is subsequently filled by the employer, the laid-off faculty member shall be hired into the position provided the laid-off employee's qualifications for the job in question are substantially equal or above those of other applicants. If hired pursuant to this subsection the previously laid-off faculty member shall not retain tenure except by mutual agreement between the President or designee and the faculty member, but shall retain previously accumulated seniority. Any salary shall be prorated for less than full-time employment. Once such an offer of employment is made to a previously laid-off faculty member, all further rights under this subsection are extinguished.

9.5 The employer agrees that notices for all open faculty member positions which are not filled from within the same College will be posted at all other Colleges covered by this agreement.

When a faculty member who is employed at one College applies for and is selected as a faculty member at another College covered by this agreement for the next academic year, the College may employ the new faculty member at his previous tenure, seniority and salary levels if mutual agreement of such is evidenced in a written agreement signed at the time of initial employment by the faculty member and the President or designee.

10.1 SALARIES

A. Salary Increases

Effective January 1, 2005, all full-time faculty shall receive a $500.00 salary increase.

 

B. Salary Minimums

 

1. Effective July 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004, minimum salaries for each level are as follows:

Level I: $29,043

Level II: $32,586

Level III: $37,319

Level IV: $42,041

2. Effective January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005, minimum salaries for each level are as follows:

Level I: $29,543

Level II: $33,086

Level III: $37,819

Level IV: $42,541

10.5 COMPENSATION OF DEPARTMENT CHAIRSEach College retains the prerogative to determine its administrative structure and appoint department chairs when determined appropriate by the College. Department chairs shall be compensated at a rate not less than $1,800 per fiscal year for FY 04 and $2,000 per fiscal year for FY 05 and each year thereafter for the additional responsibilities assumed. Department Chairs may be assigned a reduced teaching load at the discretion of the employer. A faculty member may decline to serve as department chair. If either the employer or the department chairs cancel department chairperson assignments, the compensation will be prorated for any partial completion of assignments.

12.1 TERM OF AGREEMENT

This agreement shall be in effect from ten (10) working days after the date of ratification or July 1, 2003, whichever is later, and shall continue until and including June 30, 2005, and shall be considered as renewed from year to year thereafter unless either party to this agreement notifies the other party in writing by March 1, 2005, of its desire to modify or terminate this agreement. Negotiations on a subsequent agreement shall commence on a mutually agreeable date.

 

APPENDIX A

TRANSFER OF SICK LEAVE ACCUMULATIONS

For employees at the Montana Tech College of Technology, sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989 shall be maintained separately from that accumulated after July 1, 1989. For employees at the Montana Tech College of Technology sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989 will be cashed out upon termination at the rate of one‑half of the employee's pay attributable to the accumulated sick leave. Sick leave accumulated after July 1, 1989, will be cashed out upon termination at the rate of one‑fourth of the employee's pay. Those sick leave days earned last shall be the first used.

The employer may at its discretion buy back some or all of the sick leave accumulated prior to July 1, 1989, by employees at the Montana Tech College of Technology. The rate of buy back shall be one‑half of the employee's pay at the time of the buy back. Unless otherwise agreed to, the employer must buy back sick leave from employees equally as a whole group.

Memorandum of Understanding regarding Tuition Waivers:

A partial tuition waiver benefit for dependents will be piloted for bargaining unit employees during FY 2005. Such benefit shall be administered in accordance with Regent policy.