FAMCO has officially filed a formal grievance against the administration for their refusal to return to the bargaining table to continue negotiating healthcare plans and rates for 2023 and 2024.

President Leahy recently announced his intent to freeze the 2023 monthly premiums for non-union employees in an attempt to divide university workers, but he is still unwilling to accept an agreement with FAMCO that would prevent an increase in 2023 monthly premiums for our faculty and guarantee our right to continue negotiating new rates for 2024. It seems President Leahy wants to take his ball and go home, walking out on making a good deal for faculty’s families.

For some perspective, the estimated total cost to the University to freeze faculty’s monthly healthcare premiums in 2023 would be less than $45,000. President Leahy is holding out on faculty over an amount this small.

With President Leahy’s team refusing to bargain any further on the health benefit needs of our members, FAMCO understands this is a violation of our current contract’s terms, and it also puts us on a path toward filing an unfair labor practice against the University.

We will keep members posted on the status of the grievance process as it unfolds, and our Contract Action Team will be reaching out to members directly for opportunities to get connected in the week ahead on efforts to hold the administration accountable for meeting their legal obligation to bargain with the union.

If you know that you want to be among those who are working to keep healthcare costs from increasing next year (when we know the University can, in fact, afford to keep those costs constant) then we encourage you to reach out to Sanjana Ragudaran directly, or any member of the FAMCO Executive Team, to get involved.