FROM: Wanda Heading-Grant
Vice President, Human
Resources, Diversity and Multicultural
Affairs
RE: Fact-Finding Phase of
Bargaining with United Academics
As we communicated in the fall, the
University and United Academics declared
impasse in negotiations on September 12,
2017. Attempts at mediation were
unsuccessful, and the next step in the
bargaining process is fact-finding, which
begins on February 12.
In fact-finding, both parties will present
evidence and data to an independent
fact-finder, who will make a recommendation
after hearing the information presented.
Following receipt of the recommendation, the
parties have an opportunity to negotiate
further in an attempt to reach a
settlement. If that process is
unsuccessful, both sides will present last,
best offers on all unresolved issues as a
single package to the Vermont Labor
Relations Board, which will render a final
decision.
The University is committed to presenting
accurate, comprehensive, factual data and
information in the fact-finding process.
Areas to be included will be the
University's financial conditions (including
sustainable revenues such as affordable,
competitive student tuition and expenses
associated with total compensation for
faculty), and market-based salary and
benefits comparisons.
Additional facts about the collective
bargaining process and current, relevant
issues may be found here: