Endorsements from Colleagues

from Rudy Fichtenbaum, Chief Negotiator, Wright State University AAUP

from Rodger Govea, Cleveland State University

I am thrilled to hear that you have reached a tentative agreement on your first contract.  For a long time, everything seemed so difficult. 
The tentative agreement looks very good.  As in all first contracts, there were some things you didn’t get and many compromises were necessary.  My experience has been that contracts improve over time, so that you need to understand that what you don’t have now, you may someday get.  What is most important is that you basically have a contract right now, and it should be approved.  Let me explain my reasons.

Good Grievance Procedure - First, and most important, you have a good grievance procedure, cemented into place by the provision for binding arbitration.  In my experience, this provision is critical to first contracts.  Like all other universities without labor contracts, U of Akron was a place where there was no check on arbitrary administrative decisions.  Any faculty deliberations on a complaint were merely recommendations, which could be completely ignored by the administration.  Essentially, you complained about the administration’s action, and pleaded your case to the very entity that had created the complaint.

Binding Arbitration - Binding arbitration completely changes that arrangement.  If the administration stonewalls you on a grievance, the matter can be taken to a neutral third party who will decide on the merits of the case.  You will get a decision that has the force of law.  In essence, you have the mechanism that will make the contract an enforceable document.

Solid Salary Settlement - Second, you have a good, solid salary settlement.  The basic across-the-board component is in line with other universities (it’s what we got at Cleveland State this year), and has a provision for offsetting health care increases (which we don’t have).  It will take a few more negotiations before you begin to rectify many of the inequities that have built up over time, but you have a good, solid foundation for future negotiations.

Governance - Third, you got governance.  When the Board of Trustees took governance away, they proved that you never really had it in the first place.  Now you have it, and in a legally-binding document.   I could go on, but it all leads to the same conclusion -- that your negotiating team has done a tremendous job of producing a solid contract.  You should thank them profusely, and then ratify the contract they have produced. 

Rodger Govea - CSU-AAUP