Labor Relations

Concerned About Pace of Negotiations, UA Proposes Complete CAUSE Contract

UA’s bargaining team pushed a proposed, complete contract across the negotiating table for CAUSE negotiators to consider today. University leadership believes it is in the best interest of all involved to complete negotiations over CAUSE’s first contract as soon as possible to reduce the uncertainty and frustration that many staff have told us they’re feeling, and to meet critical deadlines for potential compensation increases.

  • Negotiations began on June 25, with 3 sessions now complete.

  • The parties have still been unable to agree on standard ground rules to ensure orderly and efficient negotiations. CAUSE has repeatedly struck basic language about collaboration, civility, and respectful behavior despite UA working to accommodate concerns from CAUSE negotiators.

The Latest: Before this morning, the parties had only exchanged four individual articles. This raised concerns that a first contract may not be in place in time to receive legislative approval and appropriations for potential raises for CAUSE employees next fiscal year.

  • To move negotiations forward efficiently, the University today sent over an entire contract package for the Union to consider. Understandably, the Union needed time to consider the University’s proposal and caucused for the majority of the bargaining day.

Past Updates: 

Why It Matters: According to Bloomberg Law, it takes . Under 91Ö±²¥Labor Law, contracts must be submitted to the legislature for approval by the 60th legislative day, which would be March 21, 2027.

  • Given the pace of progress, UA is growing increasingly concerned that CAUSE-represented employees will remain in the status quo, without compensation increases, for two years in a row.

Go Deeper: If you’re a member of the bargaining unit - whether or not you voted for union representation and regardless of whether you believe your position should be excluded - CAUSE represents you at the table right now. If you have concerns or priorities for this contract, raise them with your bargaining team directly since they're the ones negotiating on your behalf.

Zoom In: Thus far, negotiations have been marked by a lack of progress on important issues. Specifically:

  • UA has been trying to work with CAUSE to ensure that the correct positions are in the unit based on their duties, but so far CAUSE negotiators have refused to substantively engage in conversations to ensure that all supervisory or confidential positions are excluded from the unit.

  • The articles UA has received from CAUSE negotiations so far largely mirror existing policy and regulation and do not address key issues like employee benefits and compensation.

The Bottom Line: University leadership is concerned that the pace of the CAUSE negotiating team is putting employees’ next raise at risk. UA is moving aggressively to avoid that outcome - but it can’t negotiate alone. The University encourages all bargaining unit members to get involved so that the parties can efficiently come to an agreement.

 

Questions? See our .