Article XXI: Employee Rights
Section A. Library Privileges
Library privileges provided to Employees by the University Library System will be to the same extent, and in the same manner, as those provided to the University’s instructional staff.
Section B. Personnel Records
At the request of an Employee, the Employee will be permitted to review records pertaining exclusively to his or her employment and maintained in a personnel file by a department or unit or by University Human Resources. It is understood that such records include evaluations which relate exclusively to performance as an Employee, but exclude letters of recommendation for employment and records which contain, in whole or in part, information pertaining to performance or progress as a student.
Section C. Instructional Materials
Any instructional materials required by the department chair or designee for a course being taught by the Employee or required of students taking the course will be provided at no cost to the Employee.
Section D. Office and Building Access
An Employee’s department or unit shall make arrangements for the Employee’s access to his or her office, and, with the exception of the Earl V. Moore Building (School of Music, Theatre, & Dance), to the building containing that office, consistent with arrangements made for the instructional or research or similarly situated professional staff of that department or unit.
Section E. Resources
Appointing units will provide, without charge, appropriate space, tools, facilities and other resources necessary for the fulfillment of the Employee’s assigned work obligations, including but not limited to:
1. office equipment necessary for duplicating and collating;
2. access to a computer and printer;
3. desk and work surface;
4. mailbox;
5. office supplies;
6. office space if office hours are required.
Departments are not required to provide individual photo-copiers or computers or printers to Employees or to give them access to main departmental offices after office hours. This Article in no way assumes that Employees have unlimited copying rights or unlimited access to supplies. These supplies and services shall be available to the same extent and on the same terms as they are made available to faculty and lecturers for the performance of teaching duties.
Written hiring unit policies regarding the implementation of this Section, where they exist, shall be made available to Employees.
The special conference procedure (as set forth in Article XV) shall be available to discuss specific concerns related to implementation of this Section.
Section F. Employee Advocacy
An Employee may submit in writing to the appropriate department or unit committee any matter concerning the employment relationship of Employees in that department or unit. If the matter is subsequently placed on the department or unit committee agenda, the Employee initiating the matter and other Employees, including the department or unit steward, if any, may be invited to discuss the matter. If other employees are invited, the Employee initiating the matter must be invited. If any Employee is invited, he or she may invite a department steward or other representative of the Union at his or her discretion.
Section G. Health and Safety
No Employee will be required to act, nor will any Employee act, in a manner which constitutes a health or safety hazard in their employment relationship.
Section H. Student Grades
Except as noted in the paragraph immediately following, an Employee who teaches a discussion, lab or lecture course will be consulted by the chair or designee prior to any change in the final grades that the Employee has assigned. The Employee shall be given reason for the proposed grade changes at this consultation.
If the Employee cannot be contacted after an attempt has been made to do so, written notification of the grade changes will be sent to him or her as soon as possible.
Section I. Work Hours
Appointing units will make reasonable efforts to ensure that all group work sessions involving GSIs (e.g., grading sessions) end before 1:00 a.m. In the event a group work session involving GSIs continues beyond 1:00 a.m., no GSI will be required to remain and work after that time. Any GSI who elects to leave as provided in this Section may be required to finish their work associated with the work session as soon as possible that same day or thereafter.
No Employee will be required to attend any work-related meeting as a term or duty of their employment unless the Employee is provided reasonable notice of the date, time, and location of such function. An Employee may be required to attend any work-related meeting during a recess of the University only if given reasonable notice in order to make appropriate arrangements.
Section J. Privacy
The University will respect the privacy of all Employees, consistent with University Standard Practice Guide 601.11 “Privacy and the Need to Monitor and Access Records.” Records pertaining to Union business will be considered personal in the context of this paragraph, and will be given the same protections and privileges as “Personal Records” in 601.11.
Section K. Kitchens
Where hiring units have kitchens available for use by Employees as of 9/1/11, Employees shall continue to have access to these facilities unless and until such kitchens may be re-tasked for alternative use.
Section L. Immigration
The International Center can provide advice and assistance with Employees’ Immigration Status. Employees are responsible for their immigration paperwork and the timely initiation of the immigration process.
Section M. Biological Station
All Employees working at the University of Michigan Biological Station shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of room and board as apply to faculty working at the University of Michigan Biological Station.
Section N. Accommodations for Lactation
Where spaces exist for faculty or staff for the primary purpose of expressing breast milk, Employees shall have access to those spaces for the purpose of expressing breast milk. A list and map of such spaces will be maintained on the Work/Life Resource Center website. If no such space exists in reasonable proximity to an Employee’s work site, the Employee’s appointing unit will make a reasonable effort to designate an appropriate temporary space for the purpose of expressing breast milk.
The University will allow time for an Employee to express breast milk, with the understanding that the Employee will not disrupt classroom or lab activities for this purpose.
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