Bargaining Update 8/12/22

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday’s negotiating session was a big one. Faculty rallied outside Strong Hall and made noise—we could hear our colleagues, and more importantly, the administration could hear while they presented proposals on benefits and compensation. As expected, the administration wants to drastically increase the cost of our PPO 5 in what seems to be an effort to force members to “choose” the high deductible PPO. In addition, changes to the actual plan would result in higher co-pays and costs to our members. In essence the administration wants to charge us more for worse benefits. When asked, administration said they did not know how much money these changes would save the university. 

In addition, the administration is proposing small percentage raises for the next five years. These raises do not go far enough to offset inflation or increased healthcare premiums. So far, the administration has refused proposals to increase summer pay, increase promotion amounts, increase overload pay and increase the frequency of the full professor promotion, all of which have remained stagnant. University administration also wants to charge faculty for parking, which (as if you needed to be reminded) the university privatized. 

On Monday, the negotiating team will bring counter proposals to the table. 

In Solidarity,

EMU-AAUP Negotiating Team