BARGAINING UPDATE Oct. 12, 2007

TRUE PRIORITIES

As an institution, EWU has its priorities. The university’s mission statement indicates that instruction and teaching-related activities are its top priorities.

However, looking at the salaries of the various types of employees at EWU, it’s clear where the priorities lie. EWU places its top priority on highly paid administrative activity. The president was awarded a 13.2% salary increase (about $20,000) after one (1) year of service. Also, a new, top-level administrative position (about $130,000 plus its obligatory assistant) was created for the Riverpoint campus this past summer. Those are clear indicators of true institutional priorities.

As far as faculty salaries go, the university continues to declare that the goal is to reach the median -- just the MEDIAN -- of EWU’s peer institutions. Yet the university’s current two-year salary offer – 3.75% and 3.5% with no serious move on salary compression -- does nothing to make progress toward that goal. That’s another indicator of true institutional priorities.

The administration’s hired negotiator, Rod Younker, said on Sept.18 that the administration is “committed to making progress, but within the realities of the institution.” Those “realities” apparently are that supporting faculty and its primary activity, teaching, is not a top priority.

Your Bargaining Team will resume negotiations on October 15. The most visible demonstration of your solidarity with the team is regularly wearing a UFE button.