Some faculty members unhappy with ratified contract


Faculty members are sharing mixed emotions after the Central Michigan University Faculty Association ratified its new contract Thursday.

While most faculty members denied comment Tuesday, the few that made statements were unhappy with the ultimate result of the contract and see a long road ahead before relations on campus will return to normal.

James Hill, a professor of political science, is among those who feel the relationship between the union and administration is severely damaged.

Both sides bargained for more than seven months, dating back to the summer, before finally coming to an agreement last week. Under the ratified deal, pay for faculty members remains frozen for this year before increasing 2.25 percent for the 2012-13 academic year and 2.5 percent in 2013-14. The FA had proposed increases of 2.2 percent in the spring semester, 3.7 percent next year and 3.9 percent in 2013-14.

“The wounds are very deep,” Hill said. “This will take some positive outreach to the faculty by the administration to begin what I think will be a long healing process.”

Sociology Department Chairwoman Brigitte Bechtold said the tension between the faculty and staff is one of many problems left to solve.

“I am disappointed by the outcome,” Bechtold said. “I don’t think this is a good contract. I think that faculty and administration relationships still have a lot of issues and the contract is only one of several.”

Katherine Rosier, a professor of sociology, anthropology and social work, declined comment regarding the nature of the contract, but said she has faith in those in charge.

“I support my leadership. I don’t want to say anything contrary to what they are saying,” Rosier said. “With that, I trust members of the board and (FA President) Laura Frey to convey the overall feeling of the Faculty Association.”

As outlined in the document, faculty from the College of Medicine were excluded from decisions made in the contract.

“I think the medical school faculty exclusion is an issue that will come back to haunt the FA in the future,” Hill said. “I cite a colleague’s observation in saying that if this is the best we can get when CMU is relatively flush, I wonder what future contracts will be like when finances are tighter.”

Bechtold said the faculty have to continue the fight if they want to see changes made in the future.

“I think the faculty members have to make clear to the administration that they will not settle for a bad contract in the future,” she said. “I know that there are plans to work for a better contract in future meetings.”

Share: