Much more than the basic package 

The Right to Work law requires all employees working a position covered under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), to have representation for those provisions covered within that CBA. This law feeds the misperception that those not paying union dues get the exact same thing as those who do pay. Our everyday work lives are impacted not solely by the terms of our current CBA but also through a wide range of ever-changing University ordinances, policies, procedures and practices. The opening statement from the MSU Support Staff Employee Handbook clearly indicates there are many more aspects impacting our work life than those topics covered in our current Administrative Professional Association (APA) CBA.  

 

In addition to the extensive list of topics in the MSU Support Staff Employee Handbook, we also work inside the boundaries of individual departmental policies.  

 

Below are common topics that influence our everyday work life. These are examples that are not covered by the current CBA. Help in these areas is a benefit only available to dues–paying members in addition to the basic contractual representation. This is not the entire list, but it does reflect weekly assistance the APA provides to dues-paying members. In reviewing the depth of the MSU Policy and Procedures it is apparent there are many areas where a partner can help us traverse a complicated path. 

 

• All stages of a performance evaluation 

 

• How to succeed during first-year probationary period 

 

• The issues to consider if asking for reclassification 

 

• Adaptation to new procedures and practices during these times of change 

 

• Make a good case for a promotion or merit recognition 

 

• Approach conversations related to workload and balancing that with the supervisor’s expectations 

 

• Negotiate a fair starting wage when changing a position on campus 

 

• Applying for other positions on campus 

 

• Start the conversation to understand how our October raises are divided and what parameters are the basis of the decisions 

 

• Advisement on new policy forms being presented and how we should respond 

 

• Working with difficult work situations 

 

• Flexible work schedules including telecommuting 

 

• Address the Outside Work for Pay document 

 

• Work with Compensatory time 

 

These topics are only a small sample of the situations where the APA helps our dues-paying members every day. Non–dues paying members do not “get the same thing for free”. For every topic which is outside the CBA, the APA can have a profound effect on our members’ lives and careers. Having a partner is invaluable not only in the bad times but in our everyday work life and the unexpected moments that arise.  

 

Our collective voice is the foundation of the protections we have at this time. It is also the root system from where we grow. Dues–paying membership not only re-enforces our basic foundation but adds personal value when we have partners who can assist with the entire breadth of issues encountered in our day to day work.