Monthly Archives: March 2025

Bargaining Update 3/10

CSN and NFA met on Friday 3/7/25 with very little discussion. Admin presented counters on Article 31 Faculty Job Descriptions and on the Nursing article, which is a new article originally proposed by NFA. NFA presented a counter on Article 24 Work Out of Title. 

–Article 31 Faculty Job Descriptions, presented by Admin: Admin continues to reject any job descriptions in the contract and eliminated all elements of a consistent job description. They stated that each faculty member may receive a copy of their individual job description by reaching out to Human Resources and asking. This is highly inefficient and is largely inaccessible for faculty. 

–Nursing Article, presented by Admin: Admin rejected contract language that states the nursing to student ratio in clinical and lab courses will be 1:8 students. CSN will bring a subject matter expert to discuss the matter next. However, CSN admin did not know that the current ratio for clinical is 1:8. They were largely unaware of current legal requirements or precedent. 

–Article 24 Work Out of Title, presented by NFA: The article clarifies and retains language around compensation for duties assigned that are outside of the typical faculty job description. NFA pointed out that faculty need access to their Faculty Job Description, which needs to be included in the contract. 

Generally, negotiations are slow. NFA is waiting on CSN Admin to offer counters on nearly all issues, including their first responses on important articles such as: Article 7 Salary & Economics, Article 8 Summer Teaching, Article 9 Relocation Expenses, Article 12 Academic Leadership Positions, Article 13 Reassigned Time, Article 14 Rank O Faculty, Article 18 Grievances, Article 25 Overload Requests, Article 26 Contact Hours, and Article 29 Faculty Infobook. 

NFA is waiting on CSN Admin’s first responses to new articles including: Benefits, Emeritus, Evaluations, New Faculty Workloads, Tenure & Probation, Progressive Discipline, Records Management, Representation, Sabbatical Leave, Seniority, Sick Leave, Substitute Pay, and Union Rights. 

Bargaining Update- 3/3

Nearly one-hundred days into negotiating our third contract, CSN-NFA is further away from ratification. CSN administration has completely crossed out major portions of the current CBA in their proposals without offering any reasonable modifications. Instead, they assert a vague understanding of what they call “management rights” to eliminate current language in the CBA that protects faculty rights.

CSN Admin is attempting to dismantle the following:

  • Academic Freedom, by removing all protections that the CBA provides for its exercise, and by allowing it to be considered insubordination
  • Shared Governance, by removing NFA’s participation and representation in governance structures
  • Department Chairs, by removing their recognition as members of the bargaining unit and diminishing their faculty protections
  • Hiring, by diminishing faculty power in the hiring process while shifting decision-making to administrators
  • Salary, Grievance Procedures, and Summer Pay, we are still awaiting their initial counters

“We no longer interpret it that way” has become their mantra in reducing faculty rights. CSN-NFA is committed to maintaining faculty rights, delivering fair compensation, and holding administration accountable.

CSN-NFA has reached four tentative agreements with CSN Admin on the following articles: Temporary Full- Time Hires (E-Hires), Due Deductive for NFA Members, Savings Clause, & Distribution of the Agreement. 

This update is from your CSN-NFA Negotiating Team. We represent all CSN full-time academic faculty at the bargaining table. We want to hear from you, and we need your support to succeed together!