Strike Authorization Vote Imminent at U of Akron

[Spin]

The Akron-AAUP has announced that a strike authorization vote will take place March 7-11.

 

https://academeblog.org/2016/03/03/strike-authorization-vote-imminent-at-the-university-of-akron/

 

AKRON, Ohio – March 3, 2016 – The American Association of University Professors, University of Akron Chapter (Akron-AAUP) has announced to faculty that a strike authorization vote of the union membership will take place from March 7 – March 11, 2016. This announcement comes after more than a year of negotiations. An affirmative vote would give  the union’s leadership the authority to call a strike at an appropriate time.

“The University apparently has the time and money to devote to re-branding and other unproven initiatives while at the same time neglecting its core academic mission,” said President of the Akron-AAUP, Dr. John Zipp, Professor of Sociology. “It’s time the faculty had the opportunity to show our resolve to win a fair contract, a contract that will enable us to provide the best educational opportunities for our students. This vote will allow us to do so.”

As of March 3, 2016, the University administration is asking faculty to absorb the costs of failed administrative policies and actions by accepting a contract with no increases in compensation and notable decreases in health and retirement benefits. These proposals come in the wake of the hiring of new administrators, in some cases with salaries almost $100,000 higher than their predecessors, as well as expenditures on a number of new initiatives.

The Akron-AAUP and its members are primarily concerned with the University’s lack of continued investment in its academic mission, and the impact that the current proposals by the university would have on faculty retention,  new faculty hires, and most importantly, on the quality of  education offered  to University of Akron Students.

Edited March 6, 2016 by Spin

[Valpo Zip]

That's a sad sad state of affairs. My heat aches for my Alma Mater 

[skip-zip]

I won't comment on what the teachers are demanding, and how I feel about it.

 

But the whole situation just adds to an already-embarrassing and damaging situation.  It needs to stop.   

[kreed5120]

3 hours ago, skip-zip said:

I won't comment on what the teachers are demanding, and how I feel about it.

 

But the whole situation just adds to an already-embarrassing and damaging situation.  It needs to stop.   

 

I agree 100%. Likewise I'm not going to comment about what the teachers are requesting, but I will say that I feel the teachers hold the leverage as the last thing the University wants is more bad publicity. 

[skip-zip]

18 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I agree 100%. Likewise I'm not going to comment about what the teachers are requesting, but I will say that I feel the teachers hold the leverage as the last thing the University wants is more bad publicity. 

 

Right.  In the wake of the present situation, you would think that a University would do anything possible to avoid such a situation.  The massive layoffs last summer may have added to the ability to get an amicable outcome. So, one action may have led to another. 

 

I recently referred to this whole situation as a "snowball rolling downhill".  This appears to be the next embarrassing step.  And unfortunately, all of this is likely far from being over.   

[ZachTheZip]

The teachers hold some leverage, but if they go on strike mid-semester it severely hurts the students and then they lose a lot of that leverage.

[Balsy]

I'm glad everyone is abstaining from talking about the negotiations of a union and it's employer.  It's very unfortunate that all to often there is a climate of distrust between the two parties, that usually leads to confrontation rather than compromise.  I would like to point out in this context, however, that if teachers go on strike it is not the teachers hurting the students, it's the institution that is. 

[LZIp]

Now all the fear mongering can stop.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/03/university_of_akron_faculty_re.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Balsy]

Who was fear mongering?