Thursday, September 16, 5:00 pm
Departmental Representatives meeting at the Union House

Thursday, September 30, 5:00 pm
All Member Assembly in SUB Ballroom D,

Accomplishments, Spring 2010

• Both TT and NTT bargaining teams have been doing research to get faculty input for bargaining which began in February. Substantial progress has been made on issues including grievance procedures, leaves, and family friendly working conditions. The two teams continue to work together closely as bargaining continues into the summer.
• AFMSU has successfully prevented changes to sick leave policies that treat faculty as hourly employees. If you are having problems related to sick leave in your department, let us know immediately at associatedfacultymsu@gmail.com.
• AFMSU has been working to ensure that changes to the prescription drug benefits do not adversely impact faculty. If you have concerns, please contact us at: associatedfacultymsu@gmail.com.
• AFMSU leadership met with President Cruzado to advocate for faculty. Issues discussed include changes to indirect cost returns on grants, the rights of faculty in departments and programs threatened with cuts (such as Microbiology), and the rights of non-tenure track faculty.
• AFMSU representatives are serving on the Provost Search Committee.
• Randi Weingarten, President of The American Federation of Teachers (AFT has more than one million members nationwide) visited in Bozeman. She listened to concerns of AFMSU members and discussed important issues in higher education and education. She assured us that our concerns are on the AFT national agenda, including funding for higher education and protection of academic freedom.
• Department Representatives met to discuss how faculty could become more involved during the bargaining process, particularly for College of Nursing faculty off campus.
• AFMSU officers worked with leaders of all of the other Montana higher education unions to form the Coalition of Union Faculty. The new group will improve communication between the units, especially with regard to setting goals for lobbying and bargaining.

Accomplishments, Fall 2009

• October Member Assembly ratified AFMSU constitution and elected officers
• Departmental Meetings continued throughout semester for informing faculty and enrolling members
• Faculty Bargaining Survey was distributed to all faculty (both members and non members) for input for bargaining priorities
• In November members elected Departmental Representatives
• Representative Assembly (the departmental representatives) met in December and elected our Bargaining Team
• Bargaining Team began meeting in December
• AFMSU is supporting several faculty both tenure track and non tenure track with grievances

Spring All Member Assembly was held Wednesday April 7, 2010