To: acadforum-l@mtu.edu, Jim Baker <jrbaker@mtu.edu>,

        Anita Quinn <aquinn@mtu.edu>, Michael Gilles <mgilles@mtu.edu>,

        wjmckill@mtu.edu, Ellen Horsch <eshorsch@mtu.edu>,

        Glenn Mroz <gdmroz@mtu.edu>

Subject: Faculty Union Update - June 25, 2007

All:

To update you on negotiations with the AAUP:

- The last negotiating sessions were on June 14 and 15, with two more 

days scheduled this week.  No session are scheduled over 4th of July 

week, then there are two a week scheduled through early August.

- There are four proposals where the University owes a response.  Three 

responses will be given on June 26, with the remaining one being the

salary article, which will be presented in early July.  We are, prior to 

that, attempting to reach an agreement for interim salary increases 

while we are still in negotiations.

- The AAUP owes the University 14 responses, and have given response 

dates for 7 of them.  Unfortunately, the AAUP has sometimes been 

unprepared to

discuss scheduled items.  On benefits for example, Ingrid Cheney was 

asked to attend scheduled sessions to discuss the proposals, but the 

AAUP was

unprepared, even though the schedule was preset, for substantial 

discussions.  While obviously wasting staff time and resources, this 

unnecessarily delays progress on negotiations.

- There are 7 articles where we have tentatively agreed, and six where 

we are in a state of 'no movement', meaning that neither side has been 

willing to move off their most recent proposal.

- The Union has requested mediation.  The mediator is schedule to be on 

campus on June 27.  The union has not clarified whether this is for the 

entire contract or for the interim salary proposal.  The University 

feels it is too premature to mediate the entire contract.

- Finally, and most disconcerting, the Union has written the University 

threatening another Unfair Labor Practice over salaries, and strongly 

implied that they would prefer a wage freeze for faculty during 

negotiations.  We do not believe this is in the best interest of the 

faculty or the institution, and continue to negotiate in good faith to 

achieve an agreement on an interim salary adjustment while negotiations 

are ongoing.

As always, if there are any questions, please contact Ellen Horsch or 

myself.

Dave R

-- 

David D Reed

Vice President for Research