Association of Professional Administrators

Contract Negotiations Updates

Updates on the progress of APA/BHE successor contract negotiations will be posted here, so keep an eye on this page for the latest bargaining information.

Negotiations Timeline

  • 3/8/24: Demand to Bargain sent to Management
  • 3/28/24: Management announced their Bargaining team members and offered dates for meeting
  • 4/10/24: Initial bargaining session – via Zoom. Set Ground Rules
  • 5/2/24: Bargaining session #1 – Worcester State University. The following were presented:
  • 5/14/24: Response to information request received from Framingham State University and Westfield State University
  • 5/20/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 3 presented via email
  • 5/30/24: Bargaining session #2 – via Zoom. The following were presented:
  • 6/20/24: Bargaining session #3 – via Zoom. The following were presented:
  • 7/17/24: Bargaining session #4 – via Zoom. The following were presented:
  • 8/1/24: Bargaining session #5 – Worcester State University. The following were presented:
  • 9/11/24: Bargaining session #6 – via Zoom. Last session to introduce new proposals. The following were presented:
  • 9/26/24: Bargaining session #7 – Fitchburg State University. The following were presented:
  • 10/24/24: Bargaining session #8 – via Zoom. The following were presented:
  • 11/12/24: Bargaining session #9 – Worcester State University
    • APA Proposal 2 rejected by BHE
    • APA Proposal 3 withdrawn by APA
    • APA presented APA Counter Proposal #1 to BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 4
    • APA Counter Proposal #1 to BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 9 presented
  • 11/21/24: Bargaining session #10 – via Zoom
  • 12/5/24: Bargaining session #11 – via Zoom

Proposals

APA Proposals

APA Proposal 1: Article VII – Health and Welfare Funding

  • 5/2/24: APA Proposal 1 presented
  • 10/24/24: Rejected by BHE

APA Proposal 2: Appendix M – Athletic Trainers Stipend

  • 5/2/24: APA Proposal 2 presented
  • 11/12/24: Rejected by BHE

APA Proposal 3: Article VIII – Job Security Probationary Period

  • 5/2/24: APA Proposal 3 presented
  • 5/20/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 3 presented via email
    • 1 year reduction in years of provisional service
    • Changes to severance and notice
  • 9/11/24: APA Counter Proposal #1 to BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 3 presented
    • 1 year reduction in years of provisional service accepted
    • Changes to severance and notice were rejected
  • 9/26/24: BHE Counter Proposal #2 to APA Counter Proposal #1 presented
  • 11/12/24: Withdrawn by APA

APA Proposal 4: Article VII – Meal Expenses

  • 5/30/24: APA Proposal 4 presented
  • 10/24/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 4 presented
  • 11/12/24: APA Counter Proposal #11 to BHE Counter Proposal #1

APA Proposal 5: Article VII – Vacation Leave Accrual Policy

  • 5/30/24: APA Proposal 5 presented
    • APA Proposal 5 – PDF
    • Return to converting vacation leave over the cap from forfeiture to sick time
    • Change the “sweep” to happen only once per year
  • 10/24/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 5 presented
    • After discussions BHE presented a revised counter proposal. Tentative agreement reached.

APA Proposal 6: Article VII – Tuition Remission Fringe Benefit

  • 5/30/24: APA Proposal 6 presented

APA Proposal 7: Article III – Workload Comp Time

  • 5/30/24: APA Proposal 7 presented
  • 8/1/24: APA Proposal 7a presented, replaces APA Proposal 7
    • Addition of language stating the work week is 37.5 hours and additional hours will receive compensatory time
    • Added language for Maritime cruises on weekend days will receive flexible scheduling

APA Proposal 8: Article V – Step System/Longevity Raises

APA Proposal 9: Article III – Job Descriptions

  • 6/20/24: APA Proposal 9 presented
    • APA Proposal 9 – PDF
    • Request additional pertinent information be added to job descriptions (e.g. work modality, if position is on-call, etc.)
  • 10/24/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 9 presented
  • 11/12/24: APA Counter Proposal #1 to BHE Counter Proposal #1 presented

APA Proposal 10: Article VII – Personal Leave

  • 6/20/24: APA Proposal 10 presented
  • 7/17/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 10 presented
    • Acceptance of change to request time from supervisor
    • Clarification of language regarding when personal leave accrues and by when it must be used
    • Tentative agreement reached

APA Proposal 11: Article I – Appendix M Remote Work Policy

  • 6/20/24: APA Proposal 11 presented

APA Proposal 12: Article III – Duties and Responsibilities

  • 7/17/24: APA Proposal 12 presented
    • APA Proposal 12 – PDF
    • Increase in the acting pay (currently $100 per week)
    • Change of language to reflect all types of leave or position vacancies

APA Proposal 13: Article IV – Evaluations

  • 6/20/24: APA Proposal 13 presented
  • 9/11/24: BHE Counter Proposal #1 to APA Proposal 13
    • Acceptance of reduction to one self-evaluation per year
    • Proposed new timelines for submission of evaluations
    • Appendix D (supervisor’s evaluation form) was amended to include prompts as well as language regarding performance improvement plans (PIPs)
  • 10/24/24: BHE Counter Proposal #2 to APA Proposal 13 presented

APA Proposal 14: Article VII – Leave

  • 7/17/24: APA Proposal 14 presented

APA Proposal 15: Article II – Association Representatives

  • 7/17/24: APA Proposal 15 presented
  • 10/24/24: Rejected by BHE

APA Proposal 16: Appendix I – Supplemental Agreement Covering Public Safety Personnel

  • 8/1/24: APA Proposal 16 presented
  • 10/24/24: Rejected by BHE

APA Proposal 17: Article III – Workload of Administrators at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy

  • 8/1/24: APA Proposal 17 presented
    • APA Proposal 17 – PDF
    • Increases in cruise stipend to also include time spend dockside and pre-cruise
    • Addition of compensatory time while on training ship and cruise
  • 9/26/24: Tentative agreement reached

Management (BHE) Proposals

BHE Proposal 1: Article II – Physical Bulletin Boards and Job Posting Procedures

  • 5/2/24: BHE Proposal 1 presented
    • BHE Proposal 1 – PDF
    • Remove requirement to post job posting on a physical bulletin board; proposal is to post these notifications electronically
    • Remove requirement to make 2 bulletin boards available for APA’s use
  • 9/11/24: Amended BHE Proposal 1 presented
    • The amended proposal combined BHE Proposal 1 and BHE Proposal 5 into this new, Amended BHE Proposal 1
  • 9/26/24: Tentative agreement reached

BHE Proposal 2: Article X – Personnel Files

  • 5/2/24: BHE Proposal 2 presented
    • BHE Proposal 2 – PDF
    • Add electronic, paper, or a combination of both relating to documents maintained in the official personnel file
    • Remove language regarding the dating and numbering of documents
  • 9/26/24: Tentative agreement reached

BHE Proposal 3: Article V – EMT Certification

  • 5/2/24: BHE Proposal 3 presented
    • BHE Proposal 3 – PDF
    • Require EMT certified employees to present a copy of their valid EMT certificate by 12/1 for stipend to be paid in January

BHE Proposal 4: Article VII – Educational Leave

  • 5/30/24: BHE Proposal 4 presented

BHE Proposal 5: Article VI – Job Posting Procedures

  • 8/1/24: BHE Proposal 5 presented
  • 9/11/24: Amended BHE Proposal 1 presented
    • The amended proposal combined BHE Proposal 1 and BHE Proposal 5 into this new, Amended BHE Proposal 1

BHE Proposal 6: Article IX – Retrenchment Notice

  • 6/20/24: BHE Proposal 6 presented
  • 10/24/24: Rejected by APA

BHE Proposal 7: Article VII – Job Security

  • 6/20/24: BHE Proposal 7 presented
  • 9/11/24: Amended BHE Proposal 7 presented
    • Definition of voluntary transfer was added
  • 10/24/24: Rejected by APA

BHE Proposal 8: Article VII – Leave

  • 7/17/24: BHE Proposal 8 presented
    • BHE Proposal 8 – PDF
    • Addition of leave for administrators whose family members are a member of the military
    • Addition of language to sick leave, to use sick time for administrator’s medical diagnosis, treatment or care
  • 9/26/24: Tentative agreement reached

BHE Proposal 9: Article VI – Promotions and Salary Adjustments

  • 7/17/24: BHE Proposal 9 presented
    • BHE Proposal 9 – PDF
    • Change in deadline by which request for salary adjustment must be made
    • Remove 90 day timeline by which a decision must be rendered by the university
  • 8/1/24: APA Counter Proposal #1 to BHE Proposal 9 presented
    • Addition of language requiring notification to unit members of upcoming salary adjustment request deadline
    • Addition of minimum increase amount to be added on base salary for newly acquired academic degrees or professional credentials relevant to position

BHE Proposal 10: Appendix K – Position Characteristics

  • 8/1/24: BHE Proposal 10 presented
  • 9/26/24: Tentative agreement reached

BHE Proposal 11: Article V – Salary Adjustments