2023 Contract Negotiations started on May 22

The first meeting of the Faculty and Administration Bargaining Teams to negotiate a successor agreement to the current AAUP contract took place on Monday, May 22. 

The current contract expires on August 27, 2023.

• The AAUP filed “Notice to Negotiate” paperwork with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) on May 18, with copies delivered electronically to the administration.
    
• This paperwork ensures that procedures outlined in Ohio’s collective bargaining law will provide the framework for negotiations, including bringing in a neutral, state-designated mediator to work with both sides, if needed. 

This year, both bargaining teams have designated Co-Leaders rather than a Chief Negotiator. 

The Faculty Bargaining Team’s Co-Leaders are Greg Klein and Julie McLaughlin. The other faculty team members are Pam Ecker and Betsy LaSorella.

The Administration team’s Co-Leaders are Provost Robbin Hoopes and VP of Administration Steve Morris. The other administration team members are Dean Yvonne Baker, CFO Chris Calvert, and Senior Director of Student Success & Development Soni Hill. 

Faculty team members said the initial 2-hour bargaining session was productive. The teams agreed on ground rules for the negotiations process, and confirmed dates for several future bargaining sessions. 

Before discussion of contract articles, the Faculty team members presented a brief opening statement that included: 

• Some AAUP history and how the slogan “Days/Dollars/Dignity” expresses key values and concerns that are embodied in the contract. 
• How AAUP has gathered information about faculty concerns this year through surveys, open forums, and workgroups focused on specific faculty roles and/or issues. 
• Key faculty concerns identified during AAUP information gathering.  

“The administration team appeared to be listening carefully to our opening statement,” Greg said. “We emphasized that we’re hopeful bargaining this year can be collaborative, and it seems that the administration team also has that goal.”  

In addition, the Faculty team presented proposals for small changes to some contract articles, primarily to remove or update out-of-date contract language or to clarify procedures that are described in the contract. 

The two teams agreed on updates to the language of contract Article 1 (Description of the Bargaining Unit). The administration team is reviewing the other changes AAUP proposed and will respond to them at future bargaining sessions. 

After bargaining with the administration concluded, the Faculty Team met for a work session and then met with the other AAUP officers. The well-fed Faculty Team greatly appreciated the breakfast and lunch sustenance provided by faculty volunteers!