Wright State University Administration, Faculty Union to Meet with Federal Mediator Today

Negotiators for Wright State University administration and faculty union will negotiate today for the first time since Monday.þþEach side will meet at about 1 p.m. today, said Noeleen McIlvenna, a WSU history professor and union contact administration officer. A federal mediator will be present at the meeting, McIlvenna said.Health care remains the central issue to negotiations, leaders of each side said this week.Members of the Wright State chapter of the American Association of University Professors have been on strike since Jan. 22. They have been picketing near the entrances of campus along Colonel Glenn Highway.þþThe strike is the union’s response to the WSU board of trustees implementation of its last, best offer of terms of employment for the union.The terms include moving faculty union members into a “uniform” health care plan, maintaining current rules of retrenchment, including no pay raises and allowing faculty to be furloughed as part of “cost savings days.” The union has taken issue with the furlough policy, changes to health care, new provisions for promotions and tenure appointment, workload and a merit pay system.The WSU board of trustees must vote on any agreement in order for it to be implemented. There are no board meetings currently scheduled to discuss collective bargaining.þþ