Layoffs and other issues

Dear Colleague,

For several months now, the Union has been working to persuade the Administration that the actions outlined in President Machen's Budget Reduction Proposal are harmful to the university, contrary to the spirit of shared governance, and in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Because the Administration has continued to turn a deaf ear, we are now taking the necessary steps to secure the faculty's rights by other, more effective, means. Accordingly, the Union has

· helped to file eight individual grievances by faculty who have been targeted for layoff, denied the right to apply for tenure and promotion, or arbitrarily and capriciously reassigned

· filed a chapter grievance concerning proposed program mergers

In May, when President Machen announced his proposal, the Union asked for evidence of the dire financial situation the Administration repeatedly claimed was the sole reason for the faculty layoffs, department mergers, and program eliminations. No such evidence was ever provided; in fact, we discovered that the Administration had substantial unrestricted funds at its disposal, a fact since confirmed by independent sources and not denied by the Administration.

Now the Administration has announced plans for increased spending on sabbaticals and for salary raises across the University. While these proposals are welcome, they belie any pretense that no money can be found to keep the outstanding faculty who have been targeted for lay-off. In fact, the Administration has changed its story: it now admits that the lay-offs and cuts were not based on financial considerations. President Machen now defends the lay-offs as part of a strategic plan, one that re-shapes the University by re-allocating resources. But he has not explained how such a scheme would benefit UF, nor has he explained why he did not consult the faculty, as is appropriate and customary on academic matters.

Throughout, the Administration's conduct has been marked by secretiveness, hypocrisy, manipulation and misrepresentation. Among other things, it has

· rejected revenue-neutral alternatives to the layoff of tenure-track faculty, even though the Board of Trustees authorized President Machen to consider such, and after he declared that he would do so

· disproportionately targeted women and minorities for layoff

· politicized the process of tenure and promotion

· made major changes in academic programs without consulting the faculty.

The Union continues to investigate the Administration's actions and will file additional individual and chapter grievances as evidence mounts of the Administration's violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We are also prepared to take other legal action, if necessary, to protect the rights of the faculty and the academic integrity of our university.

If you believe your rights have been violated, please contact our Grievance Coordinator, Prof. Jane Brockmann, at 376-0473, 392-1297, or hjanebrockmann@bellsouth.net.