Bargaining Session Update
We had another session attended by the mediator today. The OU-AAUP presented several counter proposals, both to language and economic articles. The majority of today’s session was spent arguing about the state of the employer’s finances and resource allocation priorities. In the course of presenting our economic articles, the OU-AAUP team shared moving narratives of faculty sacrifices in the wake of their declining purchasing power. We received over 100 responses from faculty of all ranks and across almost all academic units. Faculty identified a number of sacrifices including: cutbacks to spending on food; forgoing necessary medical procedures including surgeries, dental work and vital mental healthcare; inadequate housing and delayed house maintenance; reductions to childcare services and educational opportunities; and postponed car maintenance or replacement. An overwhelming number of faculty cited the need to engage in outside employment to make ends meet and regretted that their current salaries no longer covered the expenses of conducting research. The picture that emerges from these responses is one of a faculty that is deeply committed to Oakland and its students but also struggling to provide for the necessities of a decent life for themselves and their families.
The employer offered no economic proposals of any kind today.
We expect to receive counter proposals from the employer on a number of items, including economic, at our next session when the two teams meet again with the mediator on Wednesday, 8/7.
Article IV (Academic Titles): This article was TA’d today with no adjustment to the definition of special lecturers but some correction to the language regarding special lecturer terms.
Article XI (Salary for Full-Time Non-Visiting Faculty): The OU-AAUP countered the employer’s economic proposal from July 29. In our proposal the lump sum increase to base salary in year one is $8,500 and the cost of living adjustment in year three is fixed to 2.5%. All other economic increases proposed by the OU-AAUP on July 23 remain and our strong opposition to the forced distribution of merit scores was reinforced.
Article XIII (Compensation for Special Lecturers): The OU-AAUP countered the employer’s economic proposal from July 29. In our proposal the first year per credit salary increase is 12% and years two and three are 7%. All other economic increases proposed by the OU-AAUP on July 23 remain.
Article XVIII (Retirement): The OU-AAUP countered the employer’s economic proposal from July 29. In our proposal the employer’s contribution to retirement increases to 15% once tenure or job security is achieved. All other economic increases proposed by the OU-AAUP on July 23 remain.