AAUP, OU negotiations continue

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Posted: Tuesday, August 28th, 2012 at 11:09 pm | Last Updated: Wednesday, August 29th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
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With the beginning of the school year looming Sept. 4, The American Association of University Professors and Oakland University have extended the 2009 faculty contracts for a sixth time, after both sides failed to reach an agreement by the Aug. 28 deadline.

The two sides have agreed to extend the current contract until Thursday at midnight.

According to AAUP President Karen Miller, the university’s bargaining team presented a revised economic proposition to the AAUP’s bargaining team during negotiations Tuesday.

“(Our) team got a proposal and is working on their counterproposal,” Miller said.

She said the AAUP hopes to get their proposal sent to the university sometime on Wednesday, however the parties are not able to meet until Thursday because of the state mediator’s busy schedule.

The AAUP bargaining diaries seemed optimistic that a resolution would soon be reached and that the teams may exchange proposals electronically in an effort to continue making progress.

OU’s bargaining diaries state that the gap preventing the negotiations is narrowing.

“We are encouraged by these developments,” the diaries stated. “The issues being considered are complex, but the teams from both sides are diligently working through them. Their efforts are appreciated and we look forward to finalizing a new contract very soon.”

The key issues of contention between the two sides continue to be faculty benefits, including tuition waivers, health care and faculty pay.

Currently, the university has proposed cutting the faculty tuition waiver, which allows faculty members and their immediate family to attend OU free of charge.

They have also proposed switching faculty to a performance-based health care plan, which penalizes people in poor health by requiring them to pay higher deductibles, and instituting a zero percent pay raise during the next three years.

The AAUP will hold a general membership meeting Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. to update members on the status of the negotiations and allow them to voice any options or questions.

Miller said the AAUP is still hopeful a deal will get done before the start of the school year.

AAUP’s bargaining team and Oakland University’s bargaining team have agreed not to speak with the media during negotiations.

EMU


  • http://www.facebook.com/ahhobart Adam Hobart

    Killing free tuition is ridiculous. It’s a valuable perk that helps draw in new skilled faculty and it costs the university itself absolutely nothing since the faculty themselves bear the burden of teaching these people.

    On healthcare, I can see why they’d want to incentivize good behavior, but studies show you do that by offering perks like gym memberships and preventive health care services, not by threatening them into doing it on their own. For many, it’s just a matter of dropping potato chips for carrots and jogging, some have health issues they can’t control so easily, and it’s unfair to penalize them for it. The proposal needs needs to be more nuanced than that.

    And a pay free for three years? Unacceptable. You’re never going to draw talent to Oakland with stagnant wages, and these professors work their butts off to bring award winning teaching and research to Oakland. All this while tuition rates went crazy in the past few years. Where is the money going if not to competitive salaries? (Competitive is a joke by the way, Oakland ranks incredibly low when compared to the national average for faculty salaries, it’s a joke). Cut administrative salaries before faculty salaries.

    I’m an alumnus who fears the value of my Oakland degree is going to plummet if Oakland administrators keep taking actions that undermine Oakland’s long term ability to provide a quality education. Once the school develops a substandard reputation, the value of my degree begins to drop, just like company actions hurt a price of their stock. The value of that education is inherently linked to the professors. It’s the one thing you can’t afford to skimp on.