UC Faculty Adopt New Contract
Jonathan Monfiletto
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
The Utica College faculty and administration agreed to terms of a new contract just before the fall semester ended, after a negotiation process that lasted nearly two years.
The American Association of University Professors at UC ratified the new contract on Dec. 11 by a 4-1 ratio, union president James Scannell said.
Scannell pointed out, however, that union members are generally not satisfied with the document.
"I think people chose it as the best of bad options," he said. He noted that after the November layoffs many people saw no point in holding out on some of the items being negotiated.
"It was pretty clear things weren't going well," Scannell said.
Scannell said the new document is a three-year contract that lasts in effect for another year and a half. It includes a three-percent raise for the first year, a zero-percent raise for the second year and a two-percent raise for the final year.
The two-percent raise has the potential to increase to three-percent, Scannell said, if the college meets the Department of Education ratio of 1.5 for a financial score. That term is spelled out in the new contract.
"It puts front and center what we're worried about," Scannell said, pointing out the term gives the faculty motivation to push the college to improve financially. "It gives an opening to ask some serious questions."
Another part of the new contract is the healthcare plan, in which faculty gave up their ability to choose a plan. Previously, members could choose between a lower-end plan with less coverage and a higher-end plan with more coverage.
"It was pretty tough to give up," Scannell said. He said the new plan is consumer-driven with a higher deductible and more up-front costs. The college pays 80 percent of the deductible and also provides a health savings account.
Scannell said the new plan will save the college approximately $400,000 a year, though it means faculty pay more for their health insurance. Scannell pointed it out as an example of faculty giving back to the college in a time of need.
The American Association of University Professors at UC ratified the new contract on Dec. 11 by a 4-1 ratio, union president James Scannell said.
Scannell pointed out, however, that union members are generally not satisfied with the document.
"I think people chose it as the best of bad options," he said. He noted that after the November layoffs many people saw no point in holding out on some of the items being negotiated.
"It was pretty clear things weren't going well," Scannell said.
Scannell said the new document is a three-year contract that lasts in effect for another year and a half. It includes a three-percent raise for the first year, a zero-percent raise for the second year and a two-percent raise for the final year.
The two-percent raise has the potential to increase to three-percent, Scannell said, if the college meets the Department of Education ratio of 1.5 for a financial score. That term is spelled out in the new contract.
"It puts front and center what we're worried about," Scannell said, pointing out the term gives the faculty motivation to push the college to improve financially. "It gives an opening to ask some serious questions."
Another part of the new contract is the healthcare plan, in which faculty gave up their ability to choose a plan. Previously, members could choose between a lower-end plan with less coverage and a higher-end plan with more coverage.
"It was pretty tough to give up," Scannell said. He said the new plan is consumer-driven with a higher deductible and more up-front costs. The college pays 80 percent of the deductible and also provides a health savings account.
Scannell said the new plan will save the college approximately $400,000 a year, though it means faculty pay more for their health insurance. Scannell pointed it out as an example of faculty giving back to the college in a time of need.
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