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Holiday tidings (and some work things)

We have some quick updates for faculty as we wrap up the semester and leave for the holiday break.

The MOU

First, we appreciate all who took the time during finals week mail to vote on and ratify a one-time extension of the tenure timeline for 2025-2026. It required a quick turnaround during one of the busiest weeks of the semester. The MOU passed 99-1. You can read the it here.

The reopener

FUSA and the Administration met on December 5, 2025 for the first bargaining session for the 2025-2026 contract reopener, which is limited to Article 14 (Economics) and discussions of possible options for long term disability coverage. Here is a summary of the negotiations:

  1. FUSA presented Article 14 proposing:
    1. a 7% + $1000 increase to the salary scale for 2026-2027, a $1000 increase to the salary scale for 2027-2028, along with a step increase for each year, and 
    2. an increase in overload to $82/load point for 2026-2027, and $84 /load point for 2027-2028.
  1. Administration gave a detailed presentation on Long Term Disability options, comparing five different company offerings and rationale for choosing The Guardian as the best potential option for employees.  It was agreed the next step would be for Administration to secure a contract with that company, tentatively by January.
  1. The next bargaining session will be at an appropriate date in the spring while the legislature is in session and budgets are being determined.  Dr. Atwater has stated that salary increases are once again a priority.

The session

The legislative session is set to start Jan 13 and run through Mar 13. There is even talk of a special session after the regular session. So it is already shaping up to be an eventful and consequential start to the new year. FUSA has Senators that work with UFF and FEA to help shape legislation public policy and legislation. If you have any questions about the process in Tallahasse or the government relations work UFF and FEA does, fee free to contact us with any questions or feedback. You can follow the session with some handy tools:

If you’ve followed education news in Florida in recent years you know the stakes we are facing. It will require engagement from members like you to shine a light on the legislative process in Tallahassee. The more they hear from our members the less they can ignore our collective voice. Stay tuned for updates both here and in your inbox from UFF & FEA.

We hope you have a wonderful and restful holiday break and look forward to seeing you on Jan 8 at Inservice.

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Meet your new contract

You may have seen the recent message from FUSA President Sherry Sippel that the new contract is ready after adding the bargaining updates and extensive proofing by both Admin and FUSA. The current contract is also always available to you here on the FUSA website. Just go to Contract Central (linked under Resources in the header).

We’ve sent it to the printer so if you are old school and would like a paper copy we will have a limited number available soon. Until then you can access the digital copy and review a bargaining summary. As usual, if you have any questions feel free to contact us or contact a campus representative.

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Welcome Back! New year, new contract

Where did it go? The promise of summer has let us all down again, as it does every year. At the start of Spring term we see it there in the distance shimmering like a mirage. At commencement Summer is laid out before us like a long, open road. And then, suddenly, we are right back at Fall Inservice wondering, “How the heck did that happen?”

Summer is over meme

To help cushion the blow, FUSA has some great news. After starting bargaining in Fall 2024–before the storms–we finally came to an agreement on a new three-year contract for 2025-2028. You can review the bargaining summary before we vote on ratifying the contract Thursday 8/14 at Fall Inservice. We look forward to seeing you at the FUSA table!

Here are some highlights in the new contract:

  • a 3% increase to the salary schedule
  • an additional step increase for all eligible faculty
  • an increase in overload pay from $76 to $78 per load point
  • a new stipend for discipline chairs, an increase to the stipend for Tier 2 department chairs, and a new Tier 2 Program Manager position
  • full-time temporary faculty (FTT) will now be placed on the salary schedule based on prior experience and are eligible for annual pay increases.  In addition, the length of a FTT assignment can be up to 3 years, and all 3 years may be used towards tenure.
  • the return of terminal pay for unused sick days

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Updates on Disaster Relief and Bargaining

As our area has been impacted by another hurricane, please see the updated list below for potential disaster relief:

 If you have any questions feel free contact us. To learn more about the benefits of being a FUSA member, visit our Member Benefits page.

Bargaining update

Due to the recent storm closure for Hurricane Milton, FUSA and the Administration have rescheduled bargaining for Nov. 22 at the Ybor campus (YLRC 305) from 12noon – 2pm. Stay tuned for the official notice from the college and an update from the FUSA President.

Bargaining on the 2025-2028 contract will continue throughout Fall and extend into Spring term. Further dates will be shared as they are scheduled. Faculty attendance at bargaining sessions is greatly encouraged!

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FUSA addresses the Board, Impasse update

As you may be aware, FUSA went to the HCC Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 22 at the Plant City Campus. It was the third time FUSA has felt compelled to address the board directly regarding President Atwater and his administration over bargaining. We of course are awaiting an arbitration ruling regarding FUSA’s grievance filed against the College for not honoring our 2021-22 year of service and salary step. And as recently reported by the FUSA President and on this FUSA website, the Administration demonstrated bad faith bargaining, bringing nothing to the table to avert impasse over the 2022-2025 contract. FUSA felt it important to make it clear to the Board the details of the recent bargaining session and that the reasons we are still at impasse lie solely with President Atwater.

The Impasse Hearing is set for 9amThursday March 2nd at the new Administrative offices on the Dale Mabry Campus. We encourage all faculty to attend.

Impasse Hearing, March 2, 9 a.m.

HCC GWS District Administration Center
Board Room, First Floor
Dale Mabry Campus
4115 North Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614

Thank you to all the faculty who have made it out to support of FUSA at bargaining, the Board actions, and FUSA council meetings . These shows of solidarity speak volumes and show Administration our collective power. We also heard from many faculty who, due understandable constraints of class and student commitments, family, and life in general, couldn’t make it. Your encouragement and support is equally appreciated. As with previous Board actions (one & two) we are posting the prepared statements read to the Board. (we also submit these to be included in the BOT minutes.)

Stay tuned! There is a lot going on both locally for FUSA and statewide for United Faculty of Florida (UFF) and Florida Education Association (FEA). You will be getting updates, action calls, and more from us in the coming weeks via email, our new SMS texting tool, as well updates on this site.

Faculty BOT Statements (02-22-2023)Download
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Grievance filed

On January 29, 2021, the FUSA Council met and voted unanimously to file a Class-Action Grievance. Please see the message sent to faculty by FUSA President Elizabeth Key-Raimer on Feb. 9th for background information on this decision.

Over the next several months, FUSA and the Administration will work through the grievance process as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Article 11). We will send updates to faculty on progress and meeting dates when scheduled. Information will also be shared on the website.

Please reach out to your campus FUSA representatives with any questions. You may also submit questions through the FUSA website.