Legal Services NYC Bargaining Updates
Below are updates on contract negotiations between Legal Services NYC and LSSA 2320 (Legal Services Staff Association) beginning October 8, 2024 to bargain a successor agreement to the 2021-2024 agreement.
October 8, 2024
In advance of this session, the first in this year’s negotiations, the Union provided LSNYC with its substantive proposals and contract clean-up items.
While no substantive proposals were discussed during the session, the parties introduced their bargaining committees, conferred about bargaining ground rules and the schedule for upcoming sessions.
October 15, 2024
LSNYC presented its wage counterproposal to the Union, and proposals about remote work (preserving the existing policy of working in the office 50% of a pay period), the probationary period, sick leave, vacation leave requests, and updating the bar exam provisions to conform to the existing bar exam format.
LSNYC’s Chief Financial Officer gave a financial presentation before the session wrapped up for the day.
October 29, 2024
The parties discussed three Union proposals: Labor-Management 403(b) Committee, Lactation, and contract clean-up.
LSNYC presented its proposed changes to the Harassment and Discrimination Policy (to confirm to updates in the law).
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: November 18, November 22, December 3, December 4, December 13, and December 18.
November 13, 2024
LSNYC presented its responses to the Union’s proposals regarding Lactation and Labor Management 403(b) Committee. Additionally, LSNYC presented its proposed changes to the leave policy (to clarify the language of Article 6.2 (B)) and Article 10: Probation.
The Union presented its proposed changes to Article 13.2, Temperature, Water, Toilets; Article 16.5 Reasonable Accommodations; Article 7.6 Layoffs; and Article 17.3, Expense Reimbursement (for translation services).
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: November 18, November 22, December 3, December 4, December 13, and December 18.
November 18, 2024
LSNYC responded to the Union’s proposal regarding breaks (Article 13.5). In addition, LSNYC made a proposal regarding Article 8, Grievance, and resubmitted its proposals regarding Probationary Period (Article 10) and its proposed housekeeping changes to clarify the language of Article 6.2 (B), Vacation.
The Union discussed its proposals on Article 13.2, Temperature, Water, Toilets, and Article 7.6, Layoffs. The Union also asked questions about LSNYC’s Remote Work counterproposal.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: November 22, December 3, December4, December 13, and December 18. The parties also discussed January 2025 bargaining dates.
November 22, 2024
The parties met briefly and finished addressing the Union’s questions concerning LSNYC’s Remote Work counterproposal.
The parties are conferring about dates in 2025 and are scheduled to meet again on: December 3, December 4, December 13, and December 18.
December 3, 2024
LSNYC submitted its counter proposals on Section 13.2 Temperature, Water, and Toilets and Section 16.5 Reasonable Accommodations. LSNYC gave additional context to past bargaining on Section 7.6 Layoffs and committed to providing a counterproposal soon. Finally, LSNYC explained its ongoing progress with the Contract Cleanup document.
The Union presented its proposals on a Section 13.4 Office Health and Safety; Section 6.2 (D) Personal Days. The Union also presented its proposals for two new sections: Section 17.13 Union Involvement in Grant Negotiations and Section 4.7 Summer Fridays. Finally, the Union rejected LSNYC’s proposed changes to Section 14.4 Job Descriptions.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: December 4, December 13, and December 18. In the new year, the parties have confirmed to meet on January 9, January 10, January 17, January 22, January 24, January 30, and January 31. LSNYC has offered an additional six dates to bargain in February, which includes two full days.
December 4, 2024
The Union clarified its Section 4.7 Summer Fridays proposal. Additionally, the Union presented its proposals on Section 14.4 (K) Job Descriptions (Executive Secretary); Section 14.3(H) Translation and Interpretation; Section 16.1 Political Speech; and Section 18.3 Placement on Steps for New International Attorneys. Finally, the Union presented its proposal for new Section 4.5 (F) Early Office Closings.
LSNYC submitted its counter proposal on Section 13.8 Lactating Parents and explained its response to Section 13.5 Breaks.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: December 13, and December 18. In the new year, the parties have confirmed to meet on January 9, January 10, January 17, January 22, January 24, January 30, and January 31. LSNYC has offered an additional six dates to bargain in February, which includes two full days.
December 13, 2024
LSNYC presented its counterproposals to Section 16.1 Political Speech; Section 18.3 Placement on Steps for New International Attorneys; and Section 4.5 (F) Early Office Closings. LSNYC submitted an amended counter proposal to Section 14.4 (K) Job Descriptions (Executive Secretary), accepting most of the Union’s edits. LSNYC also presented a working alternative to the Union’s proposal regarding Involvement in Grant Negotiations. LSNYC rejected the Union’s Section 4.7 Summer Fridays proposal.
The Union presented its proposals on the following issues: Section 7.7 Staff with DACA/TPS Status; Section 7.8 Termination of DACA/TPS Status; new Section 5.11 Fund for Medical Equipment/Devices Not Covered by Insurance; new subsection (B) to Section 9.1 Inadequate or Unsatisfactory Job Performance; Section 14.5 Workloads and Caseloads including subsection 14.5(C) Attorney Caseloads and new subsection 14.5(D) Intake Relief; Section 14.3(L) Court and Intake Coverage; Section 14.6 Staffing; and Section 13.9 Office Space and Assignments. The Union also submitted written responses to the Discrimination and Harassment Policy and the contract cleanup package.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: December 18. In the new year, the parties have confirmed to meet on January 9, January 10, January 17, January 22, January 24, January 30, and January 31. The parties have agreed to meet at least six times in February, exact dates are forthcoming.
December 18, 2024
LSNYC presented counter proposals on to Section 9.1 (B) Inadequate or Unsatisfactory Job Performance; Article 7.7 Staff with DACA/TPS Status; Article 7.8 Termination of DACA/TPS Status; Article 7.6 Layoffs; and Article 14.5 Workloads and Caseloads, which included counters to 14.5(C) Attorney Caseloads and 14.5 (D) Intake Relief. LSNYC also informed the Union that because it had not yet responded to its October 15th Wage proposal and, therefore, did not have a sense of where the parties would ultimately settle on wage increases, it was provisionally rejecting all other economic proposals.
The Union presented its proposal on Article 18.3 Step Placement Notice to Employees and rejected LSNY’s counter proposal on Article 6.4(A)(6) Sick Leave.
The parties discussed flexible scheduling and LSNYC’s counterproposals on Article 14.4 (K) Job Descriptions (Executive Secretary); Article 7.7 Staff with DACA/TPS Status; Article 7.8 Termination of DACA/TPS Status; Article 7.6 Layoffs; and Article 6.4(A)(6) Sick Leave. The parties also reached a tentative agreement on Article 13.8 Lactating Parents.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on: January 9, January 10, January 17, January 22, January 24, January 30, January 31, February 4, February 6, February 11, February 13, February 26 and February 27.
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