We voted for faculty union, 850 to 132. It is a convincing percentage, and nobody I know of is saying openly that they voted against. Now comes the bargaining. Wages is the big issue: he have lost ground to inflation and earning less than 10 years ago (on average). Benefits are ok, I suppose. The other thing would be job security. The Board of Regents can authorize the Chancellor to fire people due to financial reasons, and that has occurred at other Kansas Regents' institutions.
We have high attrition rates. I haven't left because I lack administrative experience to be hired as chair, while not being a big star or following trends in research.
There are multi-million dollar construction projects, like a total overhaul of football stadium. We have lots of newish buildings, and some old elegant ones, but it seems that buildings are not so important, if we can have school for a year from our couches at home, as we did.
They make noises about paying market rates for faculty and staff... Needless to say there are deans and vice-chancellors who are not suffering financially.
1 comment:
Congratulations on the vote, Jonathan. I am in a union that does a wonderful job looking out for and representing me and my colleagues.
Your first collective-bargaining negotiations will be a bear - so many things to address, many for the first time. I am pulling for you.
Post a Comment