The EMU administration is not offering a 16% raise. The administration is offering the faculty an average 2.4% raise over the next three years, as the administration’s offer includes significant increases in out of pocket health care costs that the AAUP has not accepted.
Here are the facts:
· In the first year of the contract:
o The administration is offering a 3% raise
o They are also requiring faculty to pay an average of 1.8% of their salary in additional health care costs.
o Therefore, the administration is only offering a 1.2% raise in the first year
o This is before the current inflation rate of 4%. Therefore, the faculty will see a significant reduction in their purchasing power.
· In the 2nd and 3rd years of the contract:
o The university is offering a 3.25% raise
o The faculty has to pay an average of 0.25% of their salary in additional health care costs.
o Therefore, the net increase is only 3.00% in the 2nd and 3rd years of the contract.
· Over the 3 years of the contract (the union offered only a 3-year contract, and the administration did not object to this), the administration is offering:
o 1.2% in year 1
o 3.0% in year 2
o 3.0% in year 3
o An average of 2.4% over the 3 years.
o After inflation, the faculty is being offered a reduction in purchasing power for all three years.
· The AAUP is asking for an average of 4% over the 3 years. This is after taking account for additional health care costs that the union has proposed the faculty will share. The union has not accepted the large 1.8% health care contribution, but a smaller amount. The 4% net increase that the AAUP is offering is consistent with the contracts that other universities in Michigan and the Midwest have recently accepted.
· Besides the monetary issues, there are other issues that are of significant importance to the AAUP. The administration still has not:
o Accepted the premise that more full time faculty will enhance the educational quality of this institution. Eastern Michigan University has among the highest student-faculty ratios in the State, and this is in contrast to the stated mission of EMU
o The administration will not share with faculty any reports on the presence of toxic and hazardous materials on campus, or allow the AAUP independent investigators concerning these issues.