2008 Woodie Awards
Two-year tentative contract reached for faculty
With new contract, faculty will receive an across-the-board salary increase of 8.75 to 9.75 percent
By: Nathan Hellman
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: News
After over 15 months of negotiations and several threats of a strike, Portland State administrators and faculty have reached an agreement on faculty salaries.
The agreement is a two-year tentative contract from 2007-09 that will award the faculty an across-the-board salary increase ranging from 8.75 percent to 9.75 percent.
Increases for academic professionals and research faculty are 5.25 percent for 2007-08, while ranked instructional faculty members will see a 4.25 percent raise in the same time period. All three classifications will receive a 4.5 percent salary increase for 2008.09.
"It's not everything that everyone ever wanted, but that's bargaining," said Julia Getchell, executive director of AAUP's Portland State chapter. "We would have liked more, but it was clear that the university was not going to be forthright."
Portland State's chapter of the American Association of University Professors represents roughly 1,200 faculty members that are employed by the university.
"Portland State University's faculty are prized for their knowledge, research, achievements, and ability to engage students," said Interim President Michael Reardon in a University Communications release. "We're pleased that an agreement has been reached that allows us to continue educating our students and serving the community."
Getchell said AAUP was preparing to file a compliant against the university for failure to conduct good-faith bargaining. The university was aware that the complaint was to be filed by the end of July, Getchell said, which she believes is one reason the contract was agreed upon at this point.
"I think that may have encouraged them," said Getchell, who claims the university was not bargaining fairly and failed to release the necessary information AAUP needed to negotiate the contract.
Getchell believes another reason the university agreed to the contract is that new University President Wim Wiewel will be arriving soon and the administrators did not want "this hanging over his head."
The agreement is a two-year tentative contract from 2007-09 that will award the faculty an across-the-board salary increase ranging from 8.75 percent to 9.75 percent.
Increases for academic professionals and research faculty are 5.25 percent for 2007-08, while ranked instructional faculty members will see a 4.25 percent raise in the same time period. All three classifications will receive a 4.5 percent salary increase for 2008.09.
"It's not everything that everyone ever wanted, but that's bargaining," said Julia Getchell, executive director of AAUP's Portland State chapter. "We would have liked more, but it was clear that the university was not going to be forthright."
Portland State's chapter of the American Association of University Professors represents roughly 1,200 faculty members that are employed by the university.
"Portland State University's faculty are prized for their knowledge, research, achievements, and ability to engage students," said Interim President Michael Reardon in a University Communications release. "We're pleased that an agreement has been reached that allows us to continue educating our students and serving the community."
Getchell said AAUP was preparing to file a compliant against the university for failure to conduct good-faith bargaining. The university was aware that the complaint was to be filed by the end of July, Getchell said, which she believes is one reason the contract was agreed upon at this point.
"I think that may have encouraged them," said Getchell, who claims the university was not bargaining fairly and failed to release the necessary information AAUP needed to negotiate the contract.
Getchell believes another reason the university agreed to the contract is that new University President Wim Wiewel will be arriving soon and the administrators did not want "this hanging over his head."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Christiana
posted 7/20/08 @ 6:20 PM PST
I know that not everyone got what they wanted but this is good news for everyone. I look forward to going back to school in September without the threat of strike hanging over everyone's head. (Continued…)
Wesson
posted 7/30/08 @ 12:21 AM PST
It's notable that as the only OUS school with a union we are consistently the lowest paid of the top three universities and we always end up squeezing out our pitiful raises after much screaming and kicking. (Continued…)
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