EMU Faculty Union Reaches Tentative Agreement, Ending Strike

For immediate release: September 12, 2022

Contact: Roger Kerson, roger@rkcommunications.net; 734.645.0535

Breaking: EMU Faculty Union Reaches Tentative Agreement, Ending Strike

EMU-AAUP Members to Return to Classes Monday;

Ratification Vote to Take Place at Upcoming Union Meeting

YPSILANTI, Michigan – The Eastern Michigan University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (EMU-AAUP) said today that negotiators have reached a tentative agreement for a new contract covering more than 500 tenured and tenure-track faculty.

“After three days on strike and four days on the picket line, we’ve got a deal,” said Matt Kirkpatrick, associate professor of English language and literature at EMU and chair of the EMU-AAUP negotiating team. “This is an important victory for our members – and most importantly for our students. We took a stand to maintain and strengthen quality education at EMU, and this agreement moves us forward.”

Details of the proposed new contract will be discussed at an upcoming EMU-AAUP union meeting, where members will vote on ratification of the tentative agreement.

In accordance with EMU-AAUP bylaws, the union’s negotiating team announced that with a tentative agreement ready for review by union members, strike activity is suspended and EMU-AAUP members will be back in their classrooms today.

“Solidarity works,” said Mohamed El-Sayed, professor of engineering at EMU and president of EMU-AAUP. “I’ll tell you, we were just overwhelmed by the loud and proud support we’ve received this week, from students, parents, alumni and our AAUP and AFT colleagues from all across the country.”

The American Association of University Professors recently affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest unions. AAUP President Irene Mulvey and AFT President Randi Weingarten both joined EMU-AAUP members on the picket lines in Ypsilanti this week, along with hundreds of striking faculty, students, workers from other campus unions and community supporters – including members of the EMU Marching Band.

“This was a challenging set of negotiations,” said Kirkpatrick. “Our goal now is to work together, all across the campus, to deliver the best possible options and opportunities for EMU students.”

EMU-AAUP is the local chapter of the national organization of the American Association of University Professors, representing tenure-track and tenured faculty at Eastern Michigan University