Provost & Academic V.P. Western Illinois University 1 University Circle 211 Sherman Hall Macomb, Illinois 61455 Phone: 309/298-1066 E-mail: PS-Brown@wiu.edu

WIU/UPI Agreement 2001-2005

Article 1: Recognition

1.1. The Board recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining agent for academic employees in the bargaining unit described in the certification (hereafter referred to as Unit A), pursuant to the November 3, 1976 certification of the Illinois Office of Collective Bargaining (a copy of which is attached as Appendix A) and to any later certification by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB).

1.2. Pursuant to the April 3, 1985, certification of the IELRB and the August 1, 1995 certification of the IELRB, representations of which are attached hereto as Appendix B, the Board recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining agent for temporary (associate faculty) and academic support employees in the bargaining unit described in the certification (hereafter referred to as Unit B).

1.3. During the term of this Agreement, no employee in Unit A or Unit B shall be reassigned to employment in a position outside of the bargaining unit without her or his consent.

1.4. When the University creates a new academic employee classification, the administration will notify the Union Chapter President of the title of the classification and the duties of the classification within three months of appointment. At the request of the Union Chapter President, the President will schedule a meeting(s) to discuss whether the classification should be included in a bargaining unit.

1.5. The University shall make available to the Union each Fall and Spring semester changes in status of positions in Unit B, including vacancies, new hires, leave status, transfers, and reassignments.

1.6. Within thirty working days after the beginning of each academic term, the Academic Vice President shall notify the Union Chapter President of the temporary (50% or more) faculty and associate faculty employed that term.

1.7. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Board or its members, officials, agents, or representatives from meeting with any individual or organization to hear views on any matter. This Agreement shall not be changed as a result of any such meeting except by mutual agreement of the Board and the Union.

Article 2: Meet and Discuss

Meetings between the University President and the Union Chapter President shall be held once each month or as needed to discuss matters pertinent to the administration of this Agreement or any other mutually agreeable matters. Each party may invite other persons as appropriate and shall inform the other party of any such invitations. These meetings shall not be used for the purposes of negotiation or discussion of grievances. A scheduled meeting may be cancelled by agreement of both parties.

Article 3: Nondiscrimination

3.1. In accordance with applicable Federal and Illinois State law, neither the Board nor the Union shall discriminate against any employee on the basis of that employee's race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical disability, membership or nonmembership in the Union, political affiliation, sexual preference/orientation, or marital status.

3.2. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid, prohibited by or otherwise in conflict with any state or federal anti-discrimination laws, such provision shall be superseded by said law(s) without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement and shall be subject to renegotiation by both parties.

Article 4: Employment Status Notice

4.1.

1. Each employee shall receive an individual employment contract upon initial appointment. The initial contract or appointment letter shall specify the period of appointment, the type of appointment, the rank or position title of the individual, the evaluating department, the probationary year (when applicable), the salary, and any other terms and conditions agreed upon at the time of the initial offer.
2. Subsequent to the initial individual employment contract, all employees shall receive an annual individual Employment Status Notice within thirty work days after the beginning of a University's academic year or ratification of any successor Amendment, whichever is later. The Employment Status Notice shall indicate:
   1. ) the basic monthly salary of the employee for the academic year, including the salary increase components;
   2. ) the employee's status (e.g. probationary, including probationary year, tenured, terminal);
   3. ) the employee's rank or position title, if applicable;
   4. ) that the employee's appointment is subject to the availability of funds, to the laws of the State of Illinois, and the Policies and Regulations of the Board of Trustees and the University, including the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement.
3. Any modifications in the employee's salary will be reflected in a revised Employment Status Notice which will be issued as soon as possible.
4. At least once each year the University shall notify each employee of the number of days of sick leave and annual leave the employee has accrued. The accrued sick days shall be classified as (1) pre- January 1, 1984, days; (2) January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1997; or (3) post-December 31, 1997 days.

Article 5: Personnel Files

5.1. The University shall maintain one official personnel file in a central location for each employee of the University. The personnel file shall contain all signed written evaluations of the employee, decisions rendered as a result of the grievance procedure contained in Article 6 of this Agreement and other materials pertinent to the employee's professional responsibilities. Anonymous individual comments shall not be placed in the personnel file except for references to comments on student evaluations.

5.2. The personnel files will be maintained and can be examined by employees under conditions that insure the integrity and safekeeping of the files.

5.3. Employees will be notified in writing of all materials placed in their personnel file with the exception of the following routine items: (1) confidential materials submitted in connection with the employee's initial employment, (2) the initial employment contract, (3) Employee Status Notices, (4) evaluation letters placed in the personnel file at the conclusion of retention, promotion, tenure, and Professional Achievement Award evaluations, and (5) verification of employment requests authorized by the employee. An employee may submit through the Academic Vice President's office a concise statement in response to any item placed in the personnel file.

5.4. Employees may petition the Academic Vice President to have materials (other than personnel evaluations and any notice of disciplinary action) removed from their personnel file if the material is more than two years old.

5.5. A current employee or an employee who has ended her or his employment at the University may examine her or his personnel file during regular business hours. Confidential materials submitted in connection with the employee's initial employment may not be examined.

5.6. Upon request an employee may obtain one copy of any non-confidential materials in the personnel file.

5.7. An employee will be notified when the University allows access or provides copies of materials from the personnel file to any entity other than the University (including legal staff) or the Union.

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