Following the April 8 bargaining session on faculty nonrenewals, CalArts and CU-UAW met again on April 23 to bargain over faculty nonrenewals. In between the sessions, CalArts responded to requests for information from CU-UAW on the topic, and sent a letter further requesting additional bargaining.
As expressed in CalArts letter to CU-UAW, the Faculty Handbook establishes the existing process and criteria for faculty contract nonrenewals. That Handbook—including the provisions governing the timing, criteria, and procedures for renewal and nonrenewal decisions—was developed through CalArts’ shared governance process and reflects the status quo terms and conditions of employment that predated CU-UAW’s certification as the exclusive bargaining representative. CalArts has continued to apply and administer the Faculty Handbook consistently during the period before a first collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Regardless, CalArts remained willing to engage in good-faith bargaining with CU-UAW regarding any proposals the union may wish to advance concerning the nonrenewal decisions themselves or the effects of those decisions on bargaining unit members. For instance, CalArts requested for CU-UAW to provide any additional criteria for the selection decisions, but CU-UAW provided none. Instead, CU-UAW argued that the cuts do not need to happen from faculty and more management positions need to be cut. CalArts expressed that in the last staff layoffs, more management positions were cut instead of union positions. CalArts further expressed that positions have begun to be eliminated from senior leadership, and will continue through the next year, resulting in about a 20% reduction in those positions. Further, as universities experience the drop in enrollment from the demographic cliff, etc., the need to adjust instructors accordingly is both apparent and widespread.
CalArts also expressed the nonrenewals based on enrollment/projected enrollment/programmatic needs, etc., were now down to four (4) due to further resignations/retirements, etc. CU-UAW expressed that it understands that CalArts will declare impasse on the decision—though CalArts has not done so yet. CU-UAW further passed a proposal for the effects of the decision, which CalArts said it would consider and revert back to CU-UAW for another session of discussion once it has had the opportunity to further explore the proposal.