Dueling negotiation updates

Basically, if you read EMU update for negotiations yesterday (here) versus Susan Moeller’s latest email (which I include below), it looks like the negotiations are moving in baby-steps.  It sounds like there has been some progress in various insurance plans, and I guess that might help for some folks, or it might cloudy the issue as to how much the new insurance will really cost.

It sounds like the administration is moving a little bit on the flat-raise to compensate for insurance (the EMU web site says it was $300 yesterday, and Moeller’s email said it was $500 tonight), but it’s still not enough.  Probably.  The tricky thing for both sides with the insurance talk is there are so many variables.  For example, take this from the end of Moeller’s email:

… this increase in costs could result in some faculty having trouble making mortgage or rent payments.  While on average the administration is asking for a $1650 increase in payments from the faculty for health care, for families this is much higher.  Could you afford  having over 5% of your salary going to pay for health care premiums next year alone and unexpectedly at that?  No one can.

That $1650 figure is probably a bit of a moving target because I can imagine a pretty big disparity in how much people are paying for insurance– a single person versus a family of six, for example.  And of course the extent to which someone is paying over 5% of their salary for health care premiums depends on how much money someone is making since we don’t have some sort of sliding scale on payments– that is, people who make more money do not pay more for insurance.

Still, it would represent a pay cut, and that would be bad.

I was also struck by this sentence in Moeller’s email:  “Today’s news is that after working all weekend, while we have  agreement on a few health care items, the principle of giving the faculty raises of MORE than 0% this coming year,1% next year,and 1% in two years, is NOT one with which the administration agrees.”  It’s almost like the pay raise (or not!) for faculty is tied to this 0/0/0% marketing campaign.  Weird.

And the idea that it’s still (potentially) tied to enrollment and appropriation increases is also just screwy.

Well, the parties are getting closer, and tomorrow (and Tuesday) are new days.  I assume we won’t get close enough, though.  My department is scheduled to have a “retreat” on September 2, and I see that as unlikely….

The whole letter from Moeller after the break:

Dear EMU Faculty:

We are still far apart and the administration is still offering the faculty a pay cut!

The negotiating team just finished negotiating for the day with the administration.  We will receive a counter offer at 11 a.m. tomorrow – Monday morning on compensation.

This email will be long but please read it all.  We are very frustrated, angry, and worried about whether faculty can afford the increased cost of health care premiums that the administration wants us to pay and without giving us an across the board raise.

Compensation Update

Today’s news is that after working all weekend, while we have  agreement on a few health care items, the principle of giving the faculty raises of MORE than 0% this coming year,1% next year,and 1% in two years, is NOT one with which the administration agrees.

The administration also still wants to tie our raises to enrollment and appropriations increases for the next three years.  We will never get these raises!

Health Care

We are still facing a huge health care hit versus our comparable universities.  While we agreed to some level of PPO1 premiums and the administration has agreed to no deductibles or co-insurance on PPO2,  both plans premiums are still so high many faculty will have trouble affording them.  Increases need to be phased in so people can adjust, but they also need to be lower as absolute amounts.

The administration is still talking about an HMO option with a healthy choice part, but the premiums are so so high no one could afford to pay for it.

The administration has agreed to the concept of a flat raise to cover health care costs.  The flat raised offered is a ONE time $500 to base beginning in January 2011 for all faculty, including the new faculty.

Unfortunately we can not hold on to the traditional plan and the administration said no no no to changes in our vision coverage.

Other Issues

We are still negotiating on the full professor salary adjustment, CE pay is at $1550 a credit hour for the life of the contract, and the administration still wants spring/summer input from the faculty.

How you can help!

Please plan to participate in the all faculty meeting on TUESDAY, AUGUST 31ST, AT NOON in Roosevelt Auditorium.  We need your vote at that meeting to keep the pressure on the administration throughout the day and night.  The team has worked hard for four months.  We need your support outside Welch Hall on Tuesday in person to show the administration that you care about your contract.  The rally will start at 1 p.m. at the Welch Hall fountain.

Just remember -

First, the administration can afford to pay us what we have asked for to cover health care costs and to give us a raise. EMU is in good financial shape.  They just choose to spend money on other things.

Second, this increase in costs could result in some faculty having trouble making mortgage or rent payments.  While on average the administration is asking for a $1650 increase in payments from the faculty for health care, for families this is much higher.  Could you afford  having over 5% of your salary going to pay for health care premiums next year alone and unexpectedly at that?  No one can.

Till tomorrow -

Susan Moeller
EMU-AAUP President on behalf of the
EMU-AAUP Negotiating Team