University Professional Personnel Advisory Committee (UPPAC)
Minutes November 2016UPPAC Meeting
Date: Monday, November 14, 2016
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Videoconference – 67b HAB, B11B AOB, 180G BRK
Attended:
UIUC – Rick Atterberry, Jessica Mette (for Elyne Cole), Elizabeth Rockman, Tracy Parish, Jeffrey Stein
UIC – Michael Ginsburg (via phone), Colleen Piersen, Kathy Stauffer
UIS – Maureen Hoover, Gina Massie
UA – Marilyn Marshall, Jami Painter, Katie Ross, Kathy Johnson (staff), Brenda Ankenbrand (staff)
1:00 pm
I. Call to Order – Chair Maureen Hoovercalled the meeting to order. All attendees introduced themselves.
II. Approval of Minutes– Jami Painter requested that page 4, VI.B regarding the UA hiring freeze be reworded “it likely would not be lifted.” UA operates primarily with state funds. Jeffrey Stein moved to approve minutes with revision; Gina Massie seconded motion; passed unanimously.
III. Campus Reports
- APAC Chicago—Colleen Piersen reported that the executive committee met with the chancellor and provost in late summer. In the future, APAC will holdbiannual meetingswith the chancellor, one with the general membership and one with the executive committee. APAC and the chancellor will sponsor a budget townhall in February, which may be broadcast live. They held another professional development group yoga sessionthis fall. They are working with Michael Ginsburg on a professional development proposal. Ahlam Al-Kodmany attended the November BOT meeting and she reported there was not a lot of AP-related content.
- APAC Springfield – They met with the chancellor in September and talked about AP retention and recruitment. They considered holding a cultural diversity event as well as a disability panel in February. They hope to hold a cricket training session with international students, and they might invite President Killeen. They are revising bylaws to address some discrepancies regarding timing and duties. A fund raising event is scheduled for December 10. They continue to work on securing professional development for APs. There has been no announcement of funding for that. Interviews have been conducted for the HR director position and a decision is expected soon.
- CAP Urbana-Champaign–Stein reported they met with the vice provost for budget to discussthe budget situation. There were fifty nominations for the CAPE awards. Theselection process is proceeding, and the awards ceremony will be held in April. They are considering a redistricting for CAP to rebalance districts and representation. Professional development as well as monetary awards have been suspended for next year (2018). The provost will present at the December CAP meeting.
IV.Discussion Items
Preservation of AP notice rights – Pierson reported that UIC’s APAC discussed notice rights with the chancellor and other leaders, and asked Painter the status of possible changes. Painter said that UA was asked in January/February (2016) to look at all of the universities’ liabilities in light of receiving no state budget. They discussed all angles and notice rights was one of the items. They benchmarked Big 10 peers, as well as other Illinois public institutions. Notice rights vary, and some have shorter notice periods than UI. The notice rights process is documented in the university statutes. University Counsel looked into the statutes because they would need to be changed, but with the stop gap funding, there was no need to proceed. There is no current activity on notice rights. Stein said Urbana had a meeting with Painter and she shared a spreadsheet with them. Painter agreed to share that document with all of UPPAC and would send it out by email to the members.
Update onfindings of the work of the Employee Group Benefits Task Force– Ross reported that in late spring/early summer President Killeen convened a task force to look at employee benefits. The task force held health information sessions at each university, and received suggestions. The presidentreceived a draft report in September. He provided feedback and asked for additional information. They looked at the history of the state insurance act, analyzed cost and premiums, and projected future costs. They did not look at alternatives to the State of Illinois insurance plan because the university is in the state plan by statute.The state pays for a large portion of cost of the state employee insurance, and the university cannot afford to cover those costs.
The state has not backed off collecting increased insurance premiums retroactively. TheUI Office of Governmental Relations hasexpressed to legislators that imposing this retroactively would be unfair to employees. The issue is part of AFSCME contract negotiations. An administrative law judge recently determined there was an impasse in negotiations and the Illinois Labor Relations Board is meeting11/15/16 to rule on whether AFSCME and the state are at an impasse. A ruling most likely will result in an appeal to the State Appellate Court, a process which could take nine to twelve months.
Rossreported they had met with the Faculty Senate Committee, updating them on the health insurance situation. Until there is more information available, it isunlikely there will be any new information sessions.
Slide 4of the PowerPoint presentationprovided to UPPAC asserts that the university’s plans are platinum plans,which means 90%coverage of the average cost an average person would incur for medical care. The state plan currently covers 92% of that average cost with the employee covering8%. It is very different from Quality Care, which is 80/20. Premiums cover 17-20%of the health care plan and the state pays the rest. \
Slide 8 is an overview of where the state and AFSME were when the governor asked the Labor Board to decree an impasse. The state wants to increase or decrease premiums depending on annual liability. It is projected that the premiums for the current (platinum) plan would double. The gold plan would be at the current premium withemployees paying more for medical expenses. The premiums for employees with salaries over $100,000 would be higher than premiums paid by staff with lower salaries. AFSCME was willing to agree to a 5% premium increase per year and a $25 deductibles increase per yearwith no retro increases.
Slide 11pertains to the state’s new benefit enrollment system. University employees will be using this system for the next benefit choice enrollment, and is available now for employees to view their current benefits. The monetary features– premiums, copays, etc. will be available, but the system will not help employees select a plan based onproviders.
Slides 11 and 12 provide information regarding claim payment delays. In September the state started using stop gap funding and in October it started paying dental claims. Slide 13 showsthe delays for each plan. Slide 15lists university efforts regardingclaims and retroactivity, and slide 16provides links employees can use to share their concerns and ideas with the legislators.
Update on FLSA – Painter reported that 2600 employees are impacted by the changes to the FLSA overtime rules and will now be eligible for overtime pay. HR is processingthose AP positions. CampusHRs are meeting with the supervisors and staff, doing training sessions, and updating policies and rules for this change. Compensatory time will not be available for the affected individuals. Painter indicated that affected employees will be eligible for overtime in 15 minute increments and that absences are to be reported in one hour or one day increments.
New language will be added to the notices of appointment for academic staff. The President-elect may make some changes to the laws but it is unlikely anything will be changed before December 1, which is when the new law is to be implemented.
Concerns were expressed about supervisors not being informed regarding these changes for, how to get the work done, and how information will be shared with employees. More training and an FAQ link were suggested. Parish suggested all supervisors be trained, not just the highest level managers, and an email be sent to all affected employees. Atterberry said CAP had discussed the likelihood that those above the threshold ($47,476) would be absorbing the work of those under it.
UofI Investment, Performance and Accountability Commitment – Stein reported that a presentation was made at the November BOT meeting. Legislation (HB6623) was filed last week. Urbana’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee will be working on articulating the faculty’s position on this commitment. He asked if UPPAC would be interested in looking at their proposal and the effect of the commitment on academic professionals. Some thought it was a good idea while othersfelt it hadnot been out long enough for people to have formed an opinion– that they needed more information – the realistic benchmarks. It was decided to gather information so that UPPAC can decide whether to support the proposal at a later date. Marshall stated that the one page document is being revised. She suggested checking with Office of Government Relations about the timeline. She thought that the new legislative session would likely be the best time to respond.
Implications of Executive Order 2016-04, State of Illinois Code of Personal Conduct – Piersen reported that UIC is particularly concernedabout the language regarding free speech, insubordination, etc. and the interpretation of that language. Some suggested teaming up with faculty on a joint statement.Rockman said that UIUC’s CAP had discussed it, and Atterberry commented that the faculty senate has not taken it up yet. Painter suggested the possibility of having Donna McNeely attend a futuremeeting.
V. SUCCS Related Interests and Concerns –
Painter reported that since Director Brownfield started, the university has been working very positively with SUCCS. They have been receptive to university ideas and concerns. SUCCS is working productively and modernizing systems. There has been no other talk about changes in universities’ authority regarding AP exemptions.
VI. HR Updates
Benefits updates– There are 1,500 employees who are not eligible for the state health insurance plan, but who work >30 hours. The University now has an Affordable Care Act compliant plan in which those employees can enroll (Extra Help, Academic Hourly, some students).UAHR will continue working with the broker in hopes of providing a better plan next year.
Legislative updates – There are new revisions to laws affecting sick leave and bereavement leave.
1.)State - An employee may take up to two weeks (10 days – 3 paid, 7 unpaid) bereavement leave for the death of a child and up to six weeks for the death of more than one child within a twelve-month period. The new employee sick leave act extends use of sick leave to caring for grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings. 2.) Federal (DOL) - Employees paid from some federally funded grants who have not been eligible for sick leave in the past may now be eligible. Painter said she would send UPPAC members a document explaining these changes.
Ross said the Illinois General Assembly veto session starts 11.15.16 and regular session in January 2017.
VII. No other items.
VIII. Adjournment -- Parish moved for adjournment, Piersen seconded. Meeting adjourned at 2:50PM.
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