By Andrew Cluley; David Fair
Ypsilanti, MI – The faculty strike at Eastern Michigan University is now in its seventh day. It began last Thursday night.
Talks between the university and the EMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors ended Tuesday night when the university terminated negotiations after making its last best offer. That offer included a three percent salary increase for each year of a five-year contract, health care options, and improvements in retirement benefits. The faculty union rejected the offer, and says the university refused to consider a counter proposal.
Last night, the faculty union offered to go to binding arbitration to settle the contract dispute, saying the faculty is willing to abide by the ruling of an independent arbitrator.
Late last night, a university spokesman said he had not yet heard of the offer, thus could not comment.
The primary unresolved issues in the way of a new agreement are compensation and health care benefits.
This is the second day of fall semester classes at EMU. Some classes have been cancelled due to the strike, while others have continued, taught by adjunct professors, lecturers, and administrators.