\n\tBy MARTY LEVINE<\/p>\n
\n\tPrior to the recent staff unionization, Staff Council was known for advocating publicly to create new or expand existing staff benefits \u2014 and for working directly with University administrators to successfully accomplish this. Sometimes these efforts seemed to represent shared governance in its most direct form.<\/p>\n
\n\tBut because the union now has the exclusive right to negotiate for many work-related benefits for the staff it represents \u2014 about 80 percent of the total \u2014 Staff Council, on campus for more than 55 years, became a bit stymied.<\/p>\n
\n\tAt its April meeting, Staff Council\u2019s long-running Staff Relations Committee chairs, Barb Klipa and Kathryn Ferguson, told Staff Council in their monthly report: \u201cCommittee members are concerned about the future of this committee and SC in general,\u201d and were discussing a proposal for how both might proceed.<\/p>\n
\n\tAt the same time Staff Council President Lindsay Rodzwicz announced the first meeting of the organization\u2019s new Staff Relations Sub-Committee on Non-Represented Staff, \u201cdiscussing goals, priorities, charges.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe challenge right now is operating in a period of uncertainty,\u201d Klipa and Rodzwicz wrote together, in response to questions from the University Times. \u201cStaff Relations wants to continue advancing initiatives that improve staff experience, but we also respect the boundaries of the union\u2019s bargaining authority. At the same time, many staff are not represented by the union and depend on Staff Relations to advocate on their behalf. With so much still undefined while the bargaining agreement is being negotiated, the gray areas in the current landscape make it difficult to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAsked how adjusting to this new reality might shift Staff Council\u2019s focus, the pair said: \u201cSome of the strategies that are still being discussed are:<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tStrengthening communication channels by providing informational updates on what is publicly known, explaining what falls under Staff Council\u2019s purview, and developing guidance for supervisors on how to support staff during this time of transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tAdvancing initiatives outside of the collective bargaining agreement such as the Staff Council Mentorship Program, professional development opportunities, staff recognition programs, campus climate and inclusion initiatives, well-being and engagement efforts, which remain fully within Staff Council\u2019s purview.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tDocumenting what items fall outside of bargaining for all staff. We are looking to create a decision tree to help determine for our committee members what issues are under the purview of Staff Relations for all staff, which relate to non-represented staff only, and which topics\/areas are subject to bargaining by the Staff Union. This decision tree will help to reroute concerns and questions to either the non-represented subcommittee or the union representatives.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tSupporting staff through education on existing policies, helping staff navigate non-union grievance processes and clarifying what remains unchanged during negotiations. Staff Relations will remain active on many matters that are not subject to bargaining for all staff.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tContinuing to advocate in areas that are not covered by the union negotiations, including staff morale, campus culture, hiring practices, transparent communication and recognition and engagement. These are fully within Staff Relations\u2019 scope and remain important to the welfare of Pitt staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tStaff Council\u2019s Staff Relations Committee has historically used shared governance to work toward improvements in staff compensation and job classification, alongside benefits. Staff Council as a whole now will be working to shift the committee\u2019s role, voting in the near future to changes its bylaws to \u201cprovide clarification between the legal bargaining authority held by the Staff Union versus the advocacy role of Staff Relations for those who are not union represented,\u201d Klipa and Rodzwicz said. \u201cIn our opinion, the Staff Union and Staff Council ultimately want the same thing \u2014 the best working environment for staff of the University of Pittsburgh \u2014 but there are fundamental differences in how the two groups operate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile the union negotiates contracts under a formal bargaining process and has official grievance policies and procedures, they pointed out, \u201cthe Staff Relations Committee of Staff Council collaborates with all areas of the University and makes recommendations, fosters communication and focuses on policy review, information and education.\u201d While there is \u201csignificant overlap in the areas of focus,\u201d they said, \u201cthere are actions the Staff Relations committee legally cannot take\u201d anymore.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cConcerns from non-represented staff members are often expressed to our members and relayed via membership, through the Staff Council office or shared directly with the officers,\u201d they said.\u00a0 \u201cWe also receive emails directly from staff. We continue to hear concerns and advocate around salary compression, increasing benefit costs, contributing to the retirement plan, career paths and advancement, professional development and supervisor training. As many staff who are not-represented supervise two or more employees, there are now unique needs for supervisor training in the more unionized environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAnd, of course, if they hear a concern whose solution is subject to collective bargaining, they direct the staffer to the union.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe new subcommittee for non-represented staff is a temporary measure, but, the pair said, \u201cwe are exploring the potential need for a permanent standing committee within Staff Council for those who are not represented.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMarty Levine is a staff writer for the University Times. Reach him at martyl@pitt.edu<\/a> or 412-758-4859.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share? Share<\/a> it with the University Times.<\/p>\n