Union

May 19, 2021 -June 16, 2021

Florida’s Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) designates May 19, 2021 through 10:00 a.m. June 16, 2021 as the time for the election by mail to determine whether SEIU-FPSU will be the exclusive bargaining representative for eligible part-time faculty and part-time instructors.

Eligible part-time faculty and part-time instructors receive ballots directly from PERC and participate in the election process by mailing their completed ballots directly to PERC.

July 2021 -November 2021

Valencia College’s and SEIU-FPSU’s bargaining teams meet for the first time. The parties agree to work together and conduct the bargaining process in a respectful and timely manner to come to an agreement as soon as possible.

At the beginning of the session, SEIU-FPSU distributes hard copies of their proposed draft Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) language to the Valencia team, and provides explanation to proposed articles, as needed. Many segments of the draft proposal are not included or shown as ‘To Be Determined.’

In advance of the scheduled session date, Valencia’s bargaining team provides SEIU-FPSU’s bargaining team with updated CBA language.

During the meeting, SEIU-FPSU provides counter proposals to Valencia’s proposed CBA language and introduces new proposed CBA language not previously seen independent of Valencia’s proposals.

Based on the volume of new information from SEIU-FPSU, Valencia requests additional time to review SEIU-FPSU’s counter proposals. Valencia also requests that SEIU-FPSU provide Valencia with CBA language in advance of the next meeting so that both parties can reasonably prepare to discuss the proposed terms, productively move the bargaining process forward, and come to an agreement as soon as possible.

SEIU-FPSU provides Valencia’s bargaining team with new proposed CBA language late in the afternoon on February 25, 2022, approximately three business days prior to the scheduled session.

In consideration of receipt of the new information from SEIU-FPSU, Valencia’s bargaining team spends session time reviewing and discussing the new proposed language. The teams meet and have an engaged discussion, but the meeting adjourns with many substantive matters still unresolved.

Valencia provides SEIU-FPSU with counter proposals with time for the union to review prior to the scheduled session.

During the session, Valencia’s bargaining team, as requested by SEIU-FPSU, provides detailed explanations for proposed changes. SEIU-FPSU also distributes new counter proposals to a few articles from the draft CBA agreement. Valencia’s bargaining team caucuses to review new proposals.

To promote productive sessions moving forward, Valencia requests that union proposals be provided to the College reasonably in advance of scheduled meetings to allow sufficient time to review the new proposals. Valencia also requests that no further sessions be scheduled until SEIU-FPSU provides the College full proposals within a reasonable timeframe to allow for substantive review prior to the session.

Florida’s Public Employees Relations Commission issues a final ruling finding SEIU-FPSU violated section 447/501(2)(a) F.S. (unfair labor practices) during the election and campaigning process. PERC orders that SEIU-FPSU must inform its unit members of its violation of the law.

April 2022 - June 6, 2022

SEIU-FPSU does not provide Valencia with any updated information or proposals, and no new sessions have been requested/scheduled.

SEIU-FPSU provides comprehensive proposed draft collective bargaining agreement to Valencia for review in advance of a future meeting, date TBD.

Valencia provides SEIU-FPSU with counter proposals in advance of the next session.

During the session, Valencia’s bargaining team, as requested by SEIU-FPSU, reviews the counter proposals and highlights areas where a tentative agreement has been reached. 

As Valencia and SEIU-FPSU work toward a collectively bargained agreement, SEIU-FPSU agrees to send updated proposals in advance of the next scheduled bargaining session.

Valencia distributed draft Tentative Agreements (TA) on certain Articles as discussed by Valencia and the union in prior meetings, and tentatively agreed upon during this most recent meeting. The TAs were reached on the Agreement’s Preamble, and nine Articles which cover mainly routine, non-economic matters such as Recognition, Consultation, General Provisions, No Strike, Union Rights, Management Rights, Waiver, Severability, and Duration. The TAs were affirmed and executed by both bargaining teams at the meeting.

Valencia indicated it would be prepared to provide a comprehensive CBA proposal prior to the next meeting, including economic provisions.

As promised, Valencia provided the union with a comprehensive CBA proposal with economic provisions. Following the discussion on the remaining articles, both bargaining teams indicated they were agreeable to non-economic matters such as Union Rights, Grievance and Arbitration procedure, F/T Faculty and Instructor positions, Committee service by college request, and Access to Professional Development.

The union provided a counterproposal to Valencia’s economic provisions of the proposed CBA. The College indicated that it would provide a response to the economic proposal during the next CB meeting.

Valencia provided the union with an updated counterproposal which included economic provisions and minor changes to the proposed CBA. Following a deep discussion and multiple caucuses, the College offered a counterproposal to the economic provisions for union consideration. The union indicated a tentative agreement to terms and indicated that it would take the proposed CBA to their membership for initial review. The union agreed to advise Valencia by January 12, 2023 of its intent for next steps.

On Tuesday, January 17 and Wednesday, January 18, 2023, the Service Employees International Union/Florida Public Services Union (SEIU) held an on-campus vote for members of the SEIU bargaining unit (comprised of all eligible Valencia College part-time faculty and part-time instructors) to ratify the collective bargaining agreement as proposed by the College and SEIU. The majority of union members who voted in the two day process voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached between Valencia and the union. The number of bargaining unit members who participated and casted votes was 50, out of the approximately 1,300 part-time faculty and instructors who were eligible to vote.

At the District Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved the  agreement reached between Valencia and the union.

On September 15, 2023, Valencia and SEIU-FPSU bargaining teams meet to reopen bargaining conversations. SEIU-FPSU makes six (6) proposals, including a proposed 10.5% wage increase and Valencia coffee table books and tote bags, and Valencia agrees to review all new CBA proposals in advance of the next bargaining meeting. 

Valencia and SEIU-FPSU bargaining teams meet to discuss SEIU-FPSU September 15, 2023 proposals. Valencia notifies SEIU-FPSU that Valencia is not moving forward with any of SEIU-FPSU current proposals for an updated CBA, though Valencia informs SEIU-FPSU that coffee table books and tote bags could be discussed separately. Valencia asks SEIU-FPSU for a more reasonable wage proposal, and after caucusing, SEIU-FPSU abandons five (5) of six (6) proposals, and proposes a wage increase of 6.5%. Valencia agrees to take the sole proposal to the DBOT for consideration.