Regents to vote on NSU-NFA collective bargaining |
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With more than 70% of faculty members at Nevada State University affirming that they wish to hold an election to form a collective bargaining unit, the Board of Regents, at their March 6-7 quarterly meeting on the NSU campus in Henderson, will take up the NSU-NFA Chapter's request to proceed to the organizing vote this spring.
The Nevada Faculty Alliance urges its members to attend the meeting to show their support of the NSU faculty. |
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This will be the first collective bargaining vote since CSN-NFA succeeded in forming their bargaining unit in 2016. It will also be the first time that an institution other than a community college has sought the right to organize. Approval by the Regents will pave the way for a faculty vote at NSU in April.
We invite faculty from all NSHE institutions to attend the meeting on March 7th, to advocate for collective bargaining at NSU and NSHE. The meeting will be held in the Rogers Student Center on the NSU campus. It starts at 8:30 AM with the public comment period, during which we encourage members to speak in favor of the NSU-NFA agenda item. Alternatively, written comments may be submitted prior to the meeting. Of course, you're welcome to just attend the meeting as a visible show of support without making comment, too. |
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First legislative hearing for
AB191 set for March 4th |
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The Nevada Assembly's Committee on Government Affairs will hold the first legislative hearing for Assembly Bill 191 (AB191), the Collective Bargaining for NSHE Professionals bill, at 8:00 AM, Tuesday, March 4th. We encourage those who can to attend the hearing either in Carson City or the legislative building in Las Vegas. |
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Representatives from NFA and our national affiliates will join the bill's sponsor, Assemblymember Natha Anderson, to present details of the legislation which would establish collective bargaining rights for 7,200 NSHE professionals in state law. NFA officers will provide testimony to emphasize the benefits of collective bargaining and demonstrate how it improves the workplace for both faculty and the administration.
Please plan to join us in support of this important initiative.
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Collective bargaining bill advances in the legislature |
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Team of NFA lobbyists tackle busy legislative session
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With more measures already introduced than in previous sessions, the first month of the 83rd Nevada State legislative session has been exceptionally busy. A group of registered lobbyists from NFA are working to promote (or oppose) legislation that directly affects our members and higher education, as well as to ensure that our bill priorities are passed.
The group prioritized scheduling one-on-one meetings with Senators and Assemblymembers to inform them of our legislation and budget priorities. The NFA lobbyists have testified on bills related to changes to PEBP, PERS, and on issues related to campus safety at our NSHE institutions. Kent Ervin, the former state NFA president and lobbyist for the previous four sessions, is back in charge of legislative activities, particularly when it comes to collaborating with lawmakers on AB 191 and our other bill priorities. Amy Pason, a longtime NFA member and past chair of the UNR Faculty Senate, was named chair of the NFA Government Relations Committee. Ian Hartshorn, an office on the UNR-NFA Board, serves as co-Vice Chair along with Doug Unger, acting UNLV-NFA president.
The Government Relations Committee sends weekly detailed updates to interested members. To have your name added to the email list, contact either Amy or Ian: For regular updates follow us on BlueSky @nvfa.bsky.social.
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NFA Legislative Priorities
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Nominations open for NFA State Board offices
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This week, the Nominating and Elections Committee will issue a call for nominations for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the NFA State Board. As set forth in the NFA Bylaws, active members in good standing currently working at least half-time in NSHE are eligible to run for the statewide offices. The term for all four offices is two years, beginning June 1, 2025. All NFA members in good standing may make nominations, including self-nomination.
Following verification of their eligibility, the nominees will submit statements to support their candidacy that will be shared with members. Electronic ballots will arrive on April 21st and voting will close on May 2nd.
Incumbent State Board Officers, President Jim New, Vice President Jill Acree, and Treasurer Cheryl Cardoza, have announced that they will not seek nomination and will step down at the end of their current terms. New and Acree will continue to serve as chapter presidents at TMCC-NFA and CSN-NFA, respectively. |
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NSHE seeks to weaken due process in faculty termination appeals |
Despite faculty concerns that proposed changes to the policies that govern faculty discipline and termination for cause would reduce transparency and tilt the process in favor of the administration, NSHE has submitted the proposal for its second reading and possible approval at the March 7th Board of Regents meeting.
Based on faculty input gathered last November, the NFA strongly opposes the proposal and has consistently advocated that Regents reject it as currently written. We believe the Board should consider retaining the current policy that requires full review by all members of the Board of Regents, or give faculty members the option to direct their appeals either to the Chancellor or to an Appeals Panel consisting of the Chancellor and members of the Board. We urge all faculty members to contact their Regent and ask them to consider alternatives to the existing proposal to modify Title 2, Chapters 6 and 8 in the Handbook. All avenues of due process must be exhausted in proceedings where an individual's career or an institution's reputation are at stake.
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Title 2 modifications would undermine due process |
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Negotiations continue at CSN and WNC
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Both NFA chapters at CSN and WNC are currently engaged in negotiations to renew their collective bargaining agreements before June 30th. In her role as chair of the State NFA's Collective Bargaining Committee, Staci Walters has worked to ensure greater consistency in the contracts for both institutions. Walters is also the lead negotiator for CSN-NFA.
At CSN, the negotiators have reached tentative agreements on contract language that applies to temporary and emergency full-time hires, dues deductions for NFA members, the savings clause, and distribution of the agreement. Despite progress in these areas, the CSN-NFA negotiating team is working to resolve points of contention over issues such as academic freedom, shared governance, attempts to diminish the faculty role in the hiring process, and the recognition of department chairs as members of the bargaining unit. There is a concern that the negotiations will be forced to go to fact-finding or mediation as outlined in Title 4 Chapter 4 of the Board of Regents Handbook.
According to President Rachelle Bassen, the WNC-NFA negotiating team is focused on expanding administrative transparency for faculty and greater contract parity with other collective bargaining units. They report regularly on the negotiations at Faculty Senate meetings. She indicates that the process is progressing and she is optimistic an agreement will be in place in the next couple of months.
Chapter leaders at both colleges have conducted multiple faculty surveys and forums, and shared data obtained from the administration with their constituents to develop contract proposals that are geared toward favorable outcomes for faculty and an improved learning environment for our students. |
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