WMU News

WMU, AAUP reach tentative contract agreement

July 1, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University and the WMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors have reached a tentative agreement in principle on a new three-year contract.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have reached an agreement so early in the negotiating process, " said WMU President Elson S. Floyd. "This is a real tribute to the way the negotiations were conducted. The work of the negotiating teams, led by Tom Hustoles, our chief negotiator; Chet Rogers, the University's director of contract administration; and Bob Ricci, the AAUP's chief negotiator, was nothing less than superb. I will enthusiastically recommend this contract to our board, once it is approved by the union's membership."

The union membership will vote on the tentative agreement Sept. 7 after faculty members return to campus for the fall semester. Pending union ratification, the WMU Board of Trustees will vote on the new contract at its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 17.

In addition to reaching this agreement in principle, WMU and AAUP officials have agreed to extend the current contract, which expires on Sept. 6, to allow time for the ratification process.

"I greatly appreciate the professionalism and good will that graced the negotiation table," said AAUP President Dr. Ariel Anderson. "There are many 'win-win' solutions represented in the tentative agreement. This has been a very successful round of negotiations and the new provisions we have tentatively agreed to will certainly strengthen an already-strong collective bargaining agreement."

This year's agreement marks the earliest that negotiations have been concluded since the AAUP and WMU began collective bargaining. Negotiations began on June 3 and there have been 10 negotiating sessions.

Media contact: Matt Kurz, 616 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu

Media Advisory: Dr. Chester B. Rogers, the University's director of contract administration, is available for comment on the tentative agreement. He can be reached at (616) 387-8970.


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