On Tuesday, April 24, 2024, Vice President Paul Layer sent a memo regarding AGWA’s intent to strike and directing faculty and staff to confiscate UA equipment from graduate students and take over graduate student work duties in order to prevent disruption to other students. Vice President Layer’s directive did not take into account that UNAC bargaining unit members work under the union’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which stipulates conditions for assigning extra work, regardless of
extenuating circumstances.
Namely, in regard to assigning additional work, CBA article 13.4.3 clearly states that United Academics members cannot be forced to accept additional work, and refusal to accept additional work cannot result in unsatisfactory annual reviews or non-retention. If UNAC members choose to accept additional work, article 13.4.3 specifies that such assignments require additional compensation and an overload workload agreement. We have contacted President Pitney, Vice President Layer, and the Director of Labor Relations regarding these directives. If you suspect you are going to be disciplined for failing to complete any of Vice President Layer’s directives, contact your UNAC Org VP and Contract Manager immediately so we can assist you. Following are different scenarios you may be facing; we recommend all communication with supervisors on this topic be done in writing.
For affected members who choose not to accept additional work:
This is within your rights, and no one should fear negative consequences as a result of standing up for your rights. That being said, if you decline to do additional work and subsequently receive notice of non-retention, a negative evaluation in the fall, or other negative effects, notify your UNAC Org VP and Contract Manager immediately.
Following is sample language to use when turning down requests to complete additional work.
Sample message to supervisors to decline TA work (in writing):
I received Paul Layer’s directive on April 24, and I appreciate the situation our students are in. However, I have a full workload and am in no position to take on additional work at this time due to other obligations. My Collective Bargaining Agreement article 13.4.3 clarifies that I do not have to take on additional work if I have a full workload, regardless of the circumstances.
Sample message to supervisors to decline RA work (in writing):
I received Paul Layer’s directive on April 24, but I can perform only the additional duties necessary to prevent catastrophic failure. I have a full workload and this is an especially busy time of year already, and I cannot take on all of the duties normally performed by my RAs. My Collective Bargaining Agreement article 13.4.3 states that I am not required to take on extra work if I have a full workload, regardless of the circumstances.
For affected members who choose to accept the additional work:
Reach out to supervisors and communicate that it’s their responsibility, not yours, to grant you access to the courses or materials where TAs are instructor of record or graders, or to the work RAs are responsible for completing. Upon accepting and gaining access to the additional work, you must review the amount of work to be completed and negotiate the workload units on your overload form with your supervisor. Contact your UNAC Org VP and Contract Manager for advice about negotiating overload workload units.
Following is sample language that may be used in requesting access to the materials necessary to complete the work.
Sample message to supervisors regarding TAs’ work:
I received the directive from Paul Layer to gain access to my graduate students’ courses/grading/other material by no later than Friday, April 26, but it is impossible for me to complete this task until I am given access to the Canvas/Blackboard shell and/or necessary material. After I am granted access to the course/grading material, I can assess the amount of work involved to determine whether it will be possible to complete it before the May 8 deadline. At that point, if the amount of additional work seems possible, I will need an overload workload to complete the work, as stipulated in my collective bargaining agreement article 13.4.3.
Sample message from members to supervisors regarding RAs’ work:
I received Paul Layer’s directive on April 24, and I am willing to take on additional duties normally performed by my RA if I am given the access needed and we can negotiate an overload assignment to perform the necessary work, as stipulated in my union’s CBA article 13.4.3. It will be a considerable amount of additional work that’s not captured in my existing workload.
For departments chairs and program coordinators who supervise graduate student workers:
While you are considered a supervisor to the TAs or RAs in your department or program, you do not complete administrative tasks related to their employment, nor should you be expected to do that now. The best thing to do right now is reach out to your dean or director to ask for clarification of their expectations.
Following is a sample message that could be used for this.
Sample message from chairs/coordinators to supervisors:
I received Paul Layer’s directive on April 24, but I don’t know how to access the necessary material in order to complete his directive. This is not part of my workload or my normal duties as chair, and I don’t want to risk being insubordinate. Can you please add me as an instructor of record on my TAs’ Canvas or Blackboard shells and on
UAOnline? After I have access to the TAs courses, I can assess the amount of work involved to determine whether it will be possible to complete it before the May 8 deadline. At that point, if the amount of additional work seems possible, I will need an overload workload to complete the work, as stipulated in my Collective Bargaining Agreement article 13.4.3.
Regarding VP Layer’s directive to confiscate UA equipment from graduate students by this Friday, April 26:
This request seems especially problematic. In some instances, you may know what equipment belongs to UA versus your graduate student, but often that is not the case.
You also may not know who a student’s equipment belongs to, nor the proper procedures for transferring equipment, and you should not be held personally responsible for UA equipment being used by your graduate students.
Further, we do not know, and you are not allowed to ask, whether your TAs and RAs plan to go on strike. Taking their equipment is a presumption of their intent to strike that will negatively affect their studies at the end of the semester. In addition, expecting you to complete this property confiscation with 48 hours of notice during the busiest time of the semester is an impossible task.
Please get in touch with your UNAC leadership and UNAC staff if you have questions. Thank you for all you do in support of our students - undergraduate and graduate.