District of ColumbiaPR26-0494Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Collective Bargaining Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500, CtW Approval Resolution of 2025

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Extra pay for course tasks

When the University asks you to build a new for-credit course and the Dean and Chief Academic Officer approve it, you get $1,500. If a class is canceled less than 10 days before the first session, you get $450. If it is canceled within 21 days after the first class, you get pro-rata pay for meetings you taught. If you attend the department or division orientation, you get $100 in your regular paycheck. Quality Matters development is not covered by the $1,500 payment.

Higher per-credit pay for adjuncts

Beginning October 1, 2025, adjunct base pay is $1,200 per credit for AY 2025-2026. For AY 2026-2027, the base is $1,260 per credit and a 2.5% COLA applies that year. AY 2027-2028 stays at $1,260 unless the parties later agree to a new COLA. To estimate your pay, multiply the rate by the credits you teach.

One-time bonuses for long service

Adjuncts with 5 straight years, including AY 2024-2025, get a one-time $500 bonus at the start of FY2026. Ten years gets $1,000; fifteen years gets $1,500. Full-time UDC employees are not eligible. Bonuses are paid as soon as possible, no later than 60 days after Council approval.

Adjunct pay schedule and frequency

Adjuncts are paid once a month in Fall and Spring, and twice a month in Summer. In the first year of this contract, the University works to move Fall and Spring to twice-monthly pay. This changes how often you are paid, not your total pay.

Better notice, feedback, and access

When you are hired, the University sends written notice with your assignment details. You may meet with your chair before your first class. Your course is posted online quickly, and you are told fast if it is canceled. You get student evaluations, and written feedback after any observation within two weeks. A requested meeting about feedback must happen within two weeks. By the start of the Fall 2024 semester, the University establishes after-hours access to needed equipment and assigns you a UDC email for official business.

Contract dates and renewal window

The contract runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. After that, it continues year to year unless either side gives written notice to negotiate. Notice must be sent by certified mail or proper email between 120 and 90 days before the fiscal year starts.

Joint committee and adjunct handbook

A joint labor-management committee with up to five members per side meets once each semester, including Summer. It reviews current adjunct handbooks and recommends one standard handbook to the Chief Academic Officer. The University keeps full discretion over hiring, appointments, and evaluations and may add management-rights items without bargaining.

Professional development money for adjuncts

The University sets aside $25,000 each fiscal year for adjunct professional development. With Dean approval, you can get up to $1,000 back for activities that directly help your teaching. The Chief Academic Officer oversees approvals. Payment depends on money left in the fund.

Union rights and contact at UDC

UDC recognizes SEIU Local 500 as the union for adjuncts paid by the course. The University gives the union adjunct rosters on Sept. 30, Jan. 31, and two weeks after each Summer session starts, with contact and course details. Union reps may use campus spaces for union work without disrupting classes. You can choose to have union dues taken from your paycheck through PeopleSoft; the University makes a good faith effort to set this up in the first year and helps fix errors.

Grievances, management rights, and strikes

You must file a grievance within 10 days of the event or when you should have known. UDC answers within 7 days at Steps 1 and 2 and within 10 days at Step 3. The union then has 10 days to seek arbitration with a rotating panel of Joan Parker, Sean Rogers, and Joseph Sharnoff; decisions are final and costs are split equally. UDC keeps broad management rights, and actions under those rights are not grievable unless they break a written term. Hiring choices are the University's alone and may be for a single semester. The union may not strike or do work stoppages, and UDC may not lock out employees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Phil Mendelson
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 1/6/2026

Final Reading