Wright State administration has expressed its intent to begin negotiations over the next faculty contract, effective in 2020, if the faculty union withdraws its Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) charge against the university.
Wright State General Counsel and Board of Trustees member Larry Chan informed the faculty union that administration is willing to begin negotiations for the 2020 contract at the union’s convenience, according to a press release from the university.
“If an agreement is reached, those terms can immediately go into effect,” President Cheryl Schrader said in the press release.
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Schrader also said that it is “not possible” to renegotiate the terms of a contract that faculty and negotiations have negotiated since February 2017.
“All negotiations for the contact that expired in 2017 ended once we reached impasse and exhausted all statutory processes. Our trustees enacted new terms and conditions to break the impasse,” Schrader said.
Rudy Fichtenbaum, AAUP-WSU chief negotiator, responded to administration’s offer by saying that the union is prepared to negotiate either directly or through a Federal Mediator.
“We believe it is in the interest of both parties to reach a negotiated agreement,” Fichtenbaum wrote. “As a show of good faith on our part, we would agree to withdraw our ULP if we reach an agreement. Alternatively, we would withdraw the ULP immediately, if the University withdraws the imposed contract and agrees, in writing, to return to the negotiating table and work out an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties.”
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The faculty union has not walked back on its intent to strike on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at this time.
“Faculty members covered under these terms can report to work on January 22, or they can choose not to. It is their decision. However, the university has an obligation to provide our students with a high-quality education. We also have obligations to meet all state and federal higher education rules and regulations. These obligations are non-negotiable,” Schrader said.
