Update: January 2014 Lump Sum Bonus Payment
For this installment of APA Questions From The Trenches, we asked APA President Maury Koffman to provide an update regarding the lawsuit filed around the January 2014 Lump Sum bonus payment.
What is the status of the lawsuit?
There hasn’t been a great deal of movement. At this time, the APA is working with the other staff labor unions on campus to secure payout of the remaining amount of the January 2014 lump sum payment that is currently tied up in court. With the full financial support of the Michigan Education Association (MEA), the APA has secured its own legal counsel to represent the interest of APA members and is also engaged in a cooperative effort that secured legal counsel representing the entire Coalition of Labor Organizations at MSU through all court proceedings.
How much was the lump sum payment in January 2014 reduced as a result of the pending lawsuit?
Eligible APA bargaining unit members were provided a partial payment of $1,042 in January 2014. Of course, taxes and other applicable deductions reduced the members’ take-home amount. The amount being litigated is roughly another $300 per member and we are confident that once the lawsuit is concluded, those bargaining unit members who met the eligibility requirements in January 2014 will receive the remainder of the payment ($300 less applicable taxes and deductions).
When can members anticipate a decision to the lawsuit?
The next hearing is slated for mid-June 2014. However, this hearing is a procedural matter and is not a full adjudicatory proceeding on the merits of the case. Following the June hearing, the APA is hopeful to have a better understanding of the anticipated calendar for a decision on the merits of the case.
What are the steps from here?
In an effort to enforce our contract as ratified, the MEA is providing full assistance to the APA and using all legal means necessary to ensure the Wage and Health Care Agreement is enforced as ratified by the APA membership and the University. The APA will continue to keep members informed of any substantive updates related to the payment.
***It is also noteworthy that under our current agreement, APA bargaining unit members are slated for another lump sum payment in January 2015. The specific dollar amount cannot be determined until the end of the 2014 calendar year under the terms of the contract.
Who should I call with my additional questions?
APA members should feel free to contact the APA office at 517.353.4898 or via email at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.