In This issue

Over the break: Communications

Outstanding Issues

Strike Survey

Strike Preparation Committees

Post Tenure Review

Membership Soars:

Strike FAQ

Newsletter issues

AAUP Links

Akron-AAUP Monthly Newsletter: Dec 10, 2009

Communications through the holiday break

We hope faculty will be checking their email over the holidays. In addition to weekly negotiations updates, we will have two firm communications dates on December 21st and January 4th. The communications committee will send these directly to the membership, and to liaisons for posting to their respective departmental faculty.

The Outstanding Issues as of 12/06/09:

There are only a few remaining issues, but they are important ones:

Health Care: Still working on years 2 and 3 of the contract.
Compensation: Still no movement off the administration's proposal of zero (0) raises or on AAUP's proposal for salary minimums per rank.
Post-Tenure Review: Now termed something else, PTR has been proposed by the UA administration and rejected by Akron-AAUP.
Non-tenure Track Faculty: Some progress on this important issue, but much more to come to agreement on.
Domestic Partner Benefits: UA remains the only University of any size in Ohio without this basic human right.
Association Rights: The University refuses to treat Akron AAUP as a campus-based organization. Thus, we recently had to pay $1,200 to rent rooms in the Student Center for the two, two-hour informational meetings held for faculty.
Non-discrimination: The University is having difficulty understanding the term "gender identity", and by extension defining it as a status that should be protected

The Strike Survey Is Ready for Your Participation:

We have mounted a survey to gauge faculty willingness to strike should the membership reject the fact-finder's report or the administration decides to impose its last best offer. This is your opportunity to tell the union leadership your views on the issues above. The survey is completely anonymous. Chapter members will be receiving an invitation to participate directly from "Survey Gizmo" - the online survey company we use.

Strike Preparation Committees:

As we move into the new year without a contract, we are asking for volunteers to begin working on various contingencies and work action plans. To properly execute an effective strike, were we forced to do so, requires some preparatory work. Therefore, we are asking for volunteers among our chapter members to do some behind-the-scenes work on four different Contract Action Teams. These are similar to the teams we created four years ago, when an agreement in contract negotiations was uncertain and our increased preparation was required. They will be coordinated by members of the executive committee.

We have four teams at this point for which we are seeking additional members:

Donor/Alumni/Business Relations Team for communications with influential and concerned donors and alumni.
Student/Parent Relations Team for communications with prospective and current students and their parents.
Labor Union Relations Team for liaison duties with sister unions in the area and seek their support should the university force faculty into a strike.
Sign/Placard Construction Team for creating signs to post and for faculty to carry at rallies and protests or entrances to campus.

Far from borrowing trouble, we are simply being prudent. The rights we have won previously are not guaranteed - their preservation will require our attention and involvement. Please contact Dave Witt (dave.witt@akronaaup.org ) or Steve Aby (steve.aby@akronaaup.org ) to volunteer.

Post Tenure Review:

What's wrong with any post-tenure review policy? Almost everything, from its assumptions to its consequences. Tenure protects academic freedom, which is at the heart of everything faculty do. Without tenure, faculty may be circumspect in their decisions about what areas to research, how to teach their classes, or even how involved and forthcoming to be in campus shared governance opportunities (such as a Faculty Senate). College campuses have numerous mechanisms in place to continually motivate those faculty who need such incentives (e.g., promotions, accreditation, merit raises, grant applications, graduate faculty status). Most campuses have due process mechanisms for removing the rare faculty member who is derelict in executing his or her campus duties. Post-tenure review gains nothing and jeopardizes everything at the root of a faculty’s professional practice.

Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes this holiday from everyone on the Executive, Negotiating, and Communications Committees. We are working hard for faculty rights, and we know that each of you makes that possible with your support and good wishes