UFE  News  Update               February 25, 2009

BARGAINING
The UFE Bargaining Team is preparing to begin negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Wednesday, March 18.  The current CBA will expire August 31, 2009.  Members’ concerns as expressed in the bargaining interest survey taken in fall quarter are forming the basis of the UFE’s positions on issues like workload, class size, faculty evaluations, etc. 

MEMBERSHIP MEETING  March 12
In preparation for the opening of negotiations, there will be a brief General Membership meeting on Thursday, March 12, 12:00 – 1:00, in Science 137.  The Bargaining Team will present the primary elements of our positions, take questions, and seek membership support for the upcoming bargain.  We hope for a good turnout, so please make your best effort to attend.

CURRENT  LEGISLATIVE  SESSION
The Legislature is still in session, budget cuts are coming, and everyone’s help is needed to let our representatives know that higher education is the backbone of the state’s growth potential.  Please continue to contact your representatives and urge adequate funding for the state’s colleges and universities.  We have a website that makes letter writing a quick, simple, and effective method of doing that.  If you have not yet done so, please send your HOME email address to Ted Otto at UFE.eagle@sisna.com and the link will be sent to your home email. 

LECTURERS  PROMOTION  POLICY
The UFE is very disturbed at the unilateral decision by the EWU administration not to consider any Lecturers for promotion to Senior Lecturer this year.  This decision was made with complete disregard for the qualifications of  these Special Faculty and for the impact on students and programs that will result.  This is not a decision  that will have any immediate financial impact, but rather has a negative impact on the  morale of EWU’s instructional employees.   Lecturers teach a large numbers of courses and have a major impact on students’ success.  At present, we know of seven Lecturers affected; if you have knowledge of any such cases in your college or department, please let your Executive Board know by emailing UFE.eagle@sisna.com.