All:

FYI - the faculty union has filed another unfair labor practice charge against the university.  This one relates to union representation of faculty in the conduct of University grievance procedures.  This is not unexpected.  Unions often file ULP's tactically during organizing drives and the negotiation of contracts.  For example, when the UAW was organizing at Michigan Tech in the late 1980s, they filed over 40 ULPs against the university, all of which were eventually dismissed.  At this time, I am not aware of the AAUP placing the blocking charge label on this second ULP, so it should not have any effect on a decertification election.  Should anything develop further in this case, I will let you know.

As a reminder, at the Judge's initiative, the hearing on the original ULP was rescheduled and is now to be held May 11th and 12th.  It is probably too late in the academic year to negotiate a settlement that would include a provision for any decertification election to occur yet this spring, and I expect this to go to hearing without a negotiated settlement.  It is possible for the Judge to mediate a settlement at the beginning of the hearing, but failing that, we should not expect an opinion to be issued until late fall or early winter.

Dave R

David D. Reed

Vice President for Research

Michigan Technological University

1400 Townsend Drive

Houghton, MI  49931

Ph. 906 487-3043