negotiation updates: union of tenure system faculty (utsf)
Bargaining Status: The university is prepared to begin bargaining upon receipt of a demand to bargain from UTSF.
This page is to provide information during the initial contract negotiation between Michigan State University and the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF). The page will be updated as information becomes available. Please check back in the coming weeks.
Negotiation Updates: Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF)
Updates will be made to the table below.
Over the summer, MSU and the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF) met several times over the course of several weeks in June and July regarding salary increases effective October 1, 2026. During those sessions, the parties exchanged multiple proposals and engaged in extensive discussion regarding the raise pool percentage.
The University’s proposals emphasized the role of merit and performance in determining salary increases; UTSF advocated for greater equity in the distribution of increases, including establishing a minimum increase for eligible faculty.
Through the bargaining process, the parties reached a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that incorporates elements of both approaches. Under the agreement, eligible faculty members who received a satisfactory annual review are guaranteed a minimum 2.75% merit increase, while allowing for differentiation in increases based on merit.
The agreement reflects the outcome of negotiations between MSU and UTSF and the parties’ efforts to address their respective interests.
September 8, 2025: UTSF Certification and Status Quo Period: UTSF certified as the exclusive bargaining agent for unit tenure system faculty and continuing system librarians.
Description of Bargaining Unit: Union of Tenure System Faculty
Included: All tenure system faculty members and librarians.
The terms "tenure system faculty member" and "tenure system faculty members" shall include all persons appointed under the rules of tenure and holding the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor, who are employed by Michigan State University. The terms “librarian” and “librarians” shall include all persons serving in the continuing appointment system as librarian I, II and III, who are employed by Michigan State University.
Excluded: are all executives, managers, and supervisors, including but not limited to president; vice president; associate vice president; all ranks of provost (including vice provost, associate provost, and assistant provost); all ranks of dean (including associate dean and assistant dean); department chairperson; school director and co-director; institute/center director-management; librarian supervisors; faculty grievance officials; confidential employees; faculty who formerly held tenured positions at MSU; visiting faculty; faculty emeriti; all employees who are included in any other existing University collective bargaining unit; all employees appointed in the FRIB-NSCL CA system; all academic specialists in the continuing system; and all other employees of the university.
