The American Association of University Professors will call for a strike authorization vote at an Aug. 5 meeting if the administration fails to issue a contract proposal by July 31, a July 28 memo from the union told its members.

If the union does call for the vote, the memo said, negotiations will still continue.

Cheryl Casper, chief negotiator for AAUP, would not comment on the possibility of a strike authorization vote but said she is hopeful the two teams will be able to reach a tentative agreement in Thursday’s meeting, which will be extended to midnight if necessary.

Although the two parties appear to be far apart in their initial proposals, AAUP sill has the goal of completing negotiation by the end of this month, the memo said.

“We’re not going to wait another year for a contract,” said a faculty member close to negotiations, alluding to the last round of contract bargaining, where negotiations went on for more than a year.

Mark Weber, chief negotiator for the administration, said the administration is only

interested in bargaining.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a free country,” Weber said. “They can take any vote they want, but we’re interested in reaching an agreement, and that can only be done at the bargaining table and not in public meetings.”

In its memo, the AAUP outlined the initial proposals from both bargaining teams, including salary increases and benefits. The memo said the administration’s initial proposal included a refusal of domestic partner benefits and health care benefits that had not been reviewed by the Health Benefits Review Committee.

Weber said he could not confirm the memo’s description of the proposal and said bargaining cannot be judged by

initial proposals.

“They (AAUP) characterize some of our proposals in a way that would prevent me from saying that everything is accurate,” he said. “Those are initial proposals. Both sides will make concessions and move toward an agreement.”

As far as the health care benefits were concerned, neither side would comment as to why the health benefits had not been reviewed by the HBRC. In the past, all health care concerns had been reviewed by the committee before negotiations began.

Weber said while the collective bargaining agreement makes the HBRC available to be used, there is no requirement for review.

“The HBRC has done good work,” he said, “but the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t require that every planned change go through the HBRC.”

Although the goal the two parties had agreed on for bargaining completion was July 31, Weber said the real deadline is not until Aug. 23, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires. He added in most negotiations he’s been involved in, the key deadline has been the contract expiration date.

“If we can get it done, fine,” Weber said. “But if we can’t, the association still has a contract until Aug. 23.”

President Lester Lefton said regardless of disagreements, the union and the administration share similar goals.

“We’re trying to create the best university possible, with the best faculty, competitive compensation and benefits,” he said. “Sometimes, we don’t completely agree on how to get there, but there are often many pathways toward a common destination.”

AAUP-KSU’s Initial Proposal

Salary

&bull 2008-09: 3 percent increase across-the-board, plus a 3 percent merit midyear.

&bull 2009-10: 5 percent increase across-the-board.

&bull 2010-11: 4 percent increase across-the-board, plus a 2 percent merit.

Medical and other benefits

&bull Domestic partner benefits added.

&bull Improved dental coverage.

&bull Flexible use of sick leave for Family Medical Leave Act qualifying reasons.

&bull Sick leave donation program.

&bull Retirement Incentive program.

&bull No increases in faculty’s share of health

insurance costs.

&bull No increases in prescription drug co-pays.

&bull No change in current parking rates.

Administration’s Initial Proposal

Salary

&bull 2008-09: 1.5 percent increase across-the-board, plus a 2 percent merit.

&bull 2009-10: 2 percent increase across-the-board.

&bull 2010-11: 1.5 percent across-the-board, plus a 2 percent merit.

Medical and other benefits

&bull No domestic partner benefits added.

&bull Improved dental coverage, with cost increases for single coverage.

&bull No flexible use of sick leave for Family Medical Leave Act qualifying reasons.

&bull Sick leave donation program.

&bull No Retirement Incentive program.

&bull Increases in faculty’s share of health insurance costs – 35 to 200 percent over the next three years.

&bull Increases in prescription drug co-pays – 25 to 35 percent for brand-name drugs, 20 percent in maximum amount spent on drugs.

&bull Negotiated parking rates eliminated, allowing the university to set all rates.

Information about the administration and AAUP proposals came from an AAUP memo, and Mark Weber, chief negotiator for the university, would not confirm it on behalf of the administration.

Contact principal reporter Maria Nann at [email protected].