One day after faculty reach a deal, librarians' union reaches tentative agreement with Miami
Miami University's librarians union has reached a first agreement with the university on a contract, the same week as its faculty union also reached its first tentative agreement.
Just one day after Miami University's first faculty union, the Faculty Alliance of Miami (FAM), reached a tentative first contract agreement, the first librarian's union, FAM-L, also reached a tentative agreement.
Negotiations stretched on for a year and a half for both unions. At the beginning of the unionization journey in 2022, librarians and faculty had proposed a joint bargaining unit. In spring 2023, the state ruled that the faculty union could not include visiting assistant professors or librarians.
Miami's librarians quickly formed their own bargaining unit as FAM-L and unanimously voted to unionize later in 2023.
FAM-L's tentative agreement with the university will include a 7.69% raise for the three-year period from July 2023 to July 2026, according to an update posted to the FAM website, “with potential for more should the Board of Trustees approve a higher amount for 2025-2026, plus a lump sum payment.” The librarians’ agreement also establishes a 40-hour work week and winter closure days that don’t require vacation time, more clear promotion criteria and guidance, and “greater flexibility with how professional development funds may be used,” according to the update.
Like the faculty union, FAM-L's tentative agreement will need to be voted on by both the union's members and Miami's Board of Trustees.
