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What’s the buzzzzzzz …

What’s the buzzzzzzz …. Where are we now?. September 5, 2008 the Negotiation team has entered into mediation at the WMU-AAUP Chapter meeting, the faculty voted to authorize job actions up to and including a strike if needed after the Chapter meeting the team returned to mediation.

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What’s the buzzzzzzz …

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  1. What’s the buzzzzzzz …

  2. Where are we now? • September 5, 2008 • the Negotiation team has entered into mediation • at the WMU-AAUP Chapter meeting, the faculty voted to authorize job actions up to and including a strike if needed • after the Chapter meeting the team returned to mediation

  3. Our options • continue mediation • a mediator has been appointed • disclosures during mediation cannot be used against us during another phase of negotiations (e.g. fact finding) • fact finding • the appointment of an independent “fact finder” who determines whose “facts” are correct • the report of the fact finder is not binding • extend the contract, continue negotiating • work without a contract • call a job action

  4. Do we have to do this in any particular order? • no … • we have gone to mediation already • the faculty authorized job actions today up to and including a strike • fact finding can precede or follow a job action

  5. Why strike? • it’s a way to • assert our rights • demand respect and fair treatment • force the administration to grant our right to a fair contract • demonstrate our resolve to stay the course

  6. Can we legally strike? • yes and no … • in Michigan, generally, public employees do not have the right to strike; • however, there are certain protections associated with a job action if there is a valid Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) on file with the Michigan Employees Relations Commission (MERC)

  7. Who decides when we strike? • WMU-AAUP members decide if we strike, you voted to authorize the negotiation team to call a strike • the negotiation team will decide when • the “when” is a strategic matter

  8. If there’s a strike, will I have a choice whether to participate? • Yes, all faculty have this choice • however, a high level of participation is what allows a strike to succeed • the goal of the strike is to protect your working environment • you can choose not to participate in a strike, but you will not be exempted from the final contract … good or bad

  9. How does a strike work? • faculty refuse to report to work • and engage in picketing • the intent of picketing is not to block access to the campus, but to let everyone who passes by know that the faculty are on strike

  10. Will I be paid if I strike? • no, we do not have strike pay • while not assured, a condition of settling the strike could include pay for the days we were on strike

  11. What about health benefits? • the University is required to comply with United States Code Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter XX (which parallels the provisions of COBRA) that provides the opportunity for health coverage continuation if a “qualifying event,” including a strike, occurs

  12. What about the students? • Which will positively impact students? • a finite strike that may guarantee academic values and attract good faculty? • or a campus with none of these qualities or guarantees?

  13. Would I have access to my office/lab during a strike? • the University has the right to prohibit your access, but it may not, just as a way of inducing faculty to cross the picket line and break the strike • you may want to: • remove personal items from your office • backup your computer (take the backup with you)

  14. How long might the strike last? • they vary widely, for example: • Eastern Michigan: 8 hours • Youngstown State: one week • Northeastern Illinois: 20 days • Long Island University: one week

  15. How often do university professors go on strike? • historically, it is rare • but there have been more strikes – or near misses – lately • Kent State & Cincinnati State (near miss) • Youngstown (struck the week before school) • Rutgers (near miss) • Pennsylvania state universities (near miss) • all resolved their contracts through resolute action

  16. What about untenured faculty? • it is illegal for the University to punish faculty for participating in a strike • if WMU did this, WMU-AAUP would aggressively pursue legal remedies • public support of the effort provides protection

  17. And if we don’t assert ourselves? • we will have given the University complete discretion over all matters academic and economic • the administration will be emboldened to act as they have in the past: unilaterally, and without concern for shared governance and tenure • our compensation will continue to erode and our healthcare costs will continue to increase

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