Talks began in early 1968 regarding the maintenance union wanting to unionize the clerical staff.  Senior clerical members got together to discuss the best direction for the clerical staff.  Meetings were held at the University Center in the evenings, and the clerical members were polled.  The majority did not want to affiliate with the maintenance union, but did want some type of organization/representation.

Prior to organizing, there were no established pay levels for clericals.  Divisions and departments set wages with input from the Personnel Director.  Yearly increases were decided by the head of the division or department.  Raises were mostly based on favoritism, bias, and personality -- not on work ethic.  Some clerical employees did not see a raise for 3 years or more.

Clerical staff members organizing the unionization discussions included June McNerney, Doris Bennett, Eleanor (Myers) Quinlan, and Jean Collins.  The decision was made that we needed legal representation and a local attorney was hired.  Paperwork was filed for the formation of an association before the maintenance union had time to organize their petition drive.

Eleanor Myers served as the first president of the Clerical Services Staff Association.  Wages and pay ranges were set in 1968.  The clerical pay levels at that time were C1 through C9.

• April 10, 1968 

  • Clericals at CMU hold a consent election to approve sole representation by Clerical Services Staff Association.

• 1968-1970 

  • Clerical pay levels reduced to C1 through C6, with the C7 through C9 levels reclassified to form the Professional/Technical group.

  • Mandatory unpaid maternity leave at end of 5th month. Could not return to work sooner than 90 days following the birth of the child.  Position was not held for the employee to return to.

  • Mandatory retirement at age 70.

• 1970-1973

  • Language on mandatory unpaid maternity leave at end of 5th month was deleted. 

• 1973-1976

  • Added language for funeral leave to include one day for aunt, uncle, niece or nephew.

  • Equity study completed and salary adjustments made to correct inequities.

  • Good Friday (as a paid holiday) was traded for 5 days of additional holiday pay for the Univ. Shutdown between Christmas and New Years.

• 1976-1979

  • University furnishes parking decal without cost to clericals.

  • Dental insurance provided by Univ.

  • Release time granted for grievance administration.

• 1979-1982

  • Paid maternity leave for 2 weeks prior to due date and 6 weeks after delivery.

  • Certain provisional employees to be included in the bargaining unit.

  • Language added which prohibits the use of student employees to displace bargaining unit members.

  • Bumping language added in cases of the reduction or reallocation of the bargaining unit.  Language also stipulates 14 days written notice of layoff.

• 1982-1985

  • Temporary employee will be announced as a permanent position after 4 months (previously 6 months).

  • Personnel file language added, giving employee the right to view her/his own file.

  • Family Illness Fund established.

  • Sick Leave Bank established for use by bargaining unit members with less than 8 years of service.

  • Letter of agreement encourages supervisors to refrain from calling clerical employees at home during non-working hours to discuss university business, except in  emergency situations.

• 1985-1988

  • Half-time employees will be eligible for shift differential pay.

  • Comprehensive computer training program to be conducted during the 1985-1686 academic year for clerical employees.

• 1988-1991

  • Staff Association members vote to join UAW and become Local 6888.

  • Adoption leave language added to contract.

  • Health Care Committee created and will include no more than 3 bargaining unit members to serve on committee.

  • Mandatory retirement age language removed.

  • Local 6888 goes on strike when University fails to bargain.  It is the first, and only, strike in CMU’s  history.  Clericals return to work after several weeks to a “last best offer”.

• 1996-1998

  • Subcontracting language added, prohibiting purposeful erosion of the bargaining unit.

  • Sexual Harassment language added.

• 2001-2003

  • Market study completed and salary adjustments made to correct internal inequities.

  • Increases in vacation accruals.

  • Name changed from “Clerical” to “Office Professional”.

• 2003-2006

  • President Ron Gettelfinger attends opening session of negotiations between Local 6888 and the University.

• March 23, 2006

  • UAW Secretary/Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn attends opening session of bargaining.  Ms. Bunn also heads the Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) sector of the UAW.  Also attending this session were Ms. Bunn's Administrative Assistant, Phil Werking and Region 1D Director, Don Oetman.