April is always the cruelest month.
Our son (my wife also teaches at EMU) is on his “spring break” right at pretty much the busiest time of the year at EMU, the last couple weeks of the winter term when everything is getting wrapped up, when there are various once a year functions, etc., etc. Long story short, I won’t be able to attend the faculty union meeting on Monday.
So I’m looking for someone who a) is going to go to the meeting, b) is able to report back on it in a non-hyperbolic sort of way, and c) is not intensely tied to the union (e.g., Executive Committee members) to give us a report. Let me know at sitedad at emutalk dot org. I’ll post reports to the site and let the conversation continue.
I fail to satisfy two out of three of sitedad’s criteria to act as a stringer for emutalk. But I want to encourage faculty to attend if possible. I think you’ll find it interesting. Among other information, Howard Bunsis, following a suggestion from Elaine Martin, has put together some spreadsheets showing the fact-finder’s recommendations in the context of the short term (since 8/06) history of administration offers and of contracts over the last 13 years. Illuminating.
PT (UAW1976) people, have you thought about what this means for your own negotiations? Of the many lessons learned from this AAUP negotiations cycle, an important one is don’t believe administration unsubstantiated claims of poverty. Michigan’s economy = EMU financial state is an empty statement. And if you think that the current offer of a contract to faculty means you will be forced into a crappy contract, then you are WRONG. Do your homework! Best of luck to you; but better than luck, get the facts marshalled. Your good work for EMU deserves good compensation.