June 2, 2026
An update from our most recent bargaining sessions with the University
Since our last update, our bargaining team met with the university April 23, May 4, May 18, May 28 and June 1. We continue to make steady (even if slower than we’d like at times) progress.
After sharing our compensation story with ISU at our April 14 meeting, we shared our compensation proposals with them April 23. We also had some conversation regarding those proposals and the rationale behind ours. We have not yet received a response or counter.
As we previously shared with you, we’ve provided all of our language proposals to the university. They’ve shared responses to most of those language proposals and we have tentative agreements (TAs) on several of them. We had extensive discussion in May about our working conditions proposal, which is lengthy and covers a number of topics. Since that discussion, we’ve received a number of counters and responses to portions, though there are a number of items ifor which we have not yet received a response or counter.
Over the past five weeks or so we’ve made a couple more tentative agreements and are close on a couple other items after sending several responses and counter-proposals back and forth and having a number of productive conversations related to evaluation, grievance and arbitration, discipline and discharge, probationary period, and honorable dismissal/reduction in force.
We currently have tentative agreements* on:
- the purpose of the Agreement
- availability of the Agreement
- dues deduction
- no strikes/no lockouts
- academic freedom,
- labor-management meetings
- non-discrimination
- management rights
- union access and employee information
- personnel files and records
- grievance and arbitration
- discipline and discharge
*Keep in mind that all tentative agreements are just that — tentative. They could change as we continue through this process, but they are signs of continued progress and we are optimistic we can continue that progress if the university continues to come to the table and bargain in good faith with us.
We anticipate having TAs on probationary period and honorable dismissal/reduction in force at our next meeting. We also anticipate resolving evaluation soon — perhaps at our next meeting June 22.
Our team is scheduled for a work session on June 15. We’ve asked ISU to send us any counters or responses they can before then so we can work on them and make our June 22 meeting more productive.
On behalf of all of us — Lauren Denofrio-Corrales, Jake Davis, Andy Goveia, Chris Pederson, Kevin Thompson, Amy Yount and IEA UniServ Director Ben Matthews — thank you for your continued solidarity and support! If you are wanting to help in any way, you can reach out to LSEA president, Meg Flanagan!
Our power at the bargaining table comes from membership and our solidarity is our strength. If you have not yet joined us, please join us today! Reach out to anyone of the bargaining team or contact Meg, if you have questions or would like more information about becoming a LSEA member!
After our work session on June 15, we are scheduled to meet again with the ISU team on June 22 and June 30.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. And watch for more updates as we have more information to share.
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