As of 12:30 a.m. Friday, there is still no update on the American Association of University Professors and Oakland University contract negotiations.

The deadline for the 2009 faculty negotiations was midnight Friday.

In an earlier interview, AAUP President Karen Miller said the AAUP still hopes both teams can come to a tentative agreement before the beginning of the academic year. Their primary planning focus is on that objective. Classes are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“The AAUP is working diligently to settle on a tentative agreement before the beginning of the fall semester,” Miller said. “It is our goal to begin the academic year smoothly, with our focus on teaching. The two sides have been negotiating throughout today and will continue to work to build a settlement.”

According to Section 2 of the Public Employment Relations Act 336 of 1947, if the AAUP and OU are unable to come to an agreement, Oakland may require the professors to accept their last proposed offer. The act also said it is illegal to strike in the state of Michigan.

The act defines a strike as “a concerted failure to report for duty, the willful absence from one’s position, the stoppage of work, or the abstinence in whole or in part from the full, faithful and proper performance of the duties of employment for the purpose of inducing, influencing, or coercing a change in employment conditions, compensation, or or the rights, privileges, or obligations of employment.”

The main issues of this year’s bargaining negotiations include a switch to a performance-based health care plan, cuts in faculty benefits including summer pay, post tenure review, the elimination of tuition waivers and a zero percent raise over the next three years.

Miller said AAUP bargainers are prepared to negotiate throughout the holiday weekend if necessary.

The Oakland Post will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

—

Haley Kotwicki, Brian Johnston, Natalie Popovoski and Katie Williams contributed to this article.