Excerpt from WDTN
In just one week the Wright State faculty are scheduled to strike, and it appears neither side is willing to budge. Both the University president and a union official say the battle is about doing what's best for the students and the University, not about winning and losing. But each side is so entrenched, and it doesn't look like this will be resolved soon.
There was concern from both sides Tuesday, one week before the scheduled strike. The union's goal is to reopen discussions. Dr. Noeleen McIlvenna is a history professor and union official. She says, "This last-ditch effort to make them talk to us and say what is it that we can do to protect the academics of this University."
But the University says that time has passed. President Cheryl Schrader says, "We have been spending the last two years negotiating in many different ways. And that all of these levels with all the recommendations, the union leadership has rejected the recommendations of issues."
President Schrader says the University has little choice with their back against the wall. "Our mission is to educate students and make sure they have high-quality, affordable education. To do that we have to change the status quo."
She says these terms are in the University's best interest; any other offer would be less than ideal.
But the union says the long-term health of the University is at stake. Dr. McIlvenna says, "As our faculty retire or as they get jobs elsewhere — because many of them are looking now — nobody will want to come and take a job here. These are just not conditions any faculty member would want to work under."
But Schrader vehemently denies that, saying it's a good offer now and it will be a good offer to prospective instructors in the future. “The joy of working in higher education is we have a highly educated workforce and we have that ability to bring expertise into the classroom."
The faculty union represents 560 of the University's roughly 1700 instructors, so not every department will be affected. Students are expected to go to class in the event of a strike, and the University will remain fully functional.
