University of Alaska regents approve faculty pay increases. But the union says negotiations aren’t over. – Alaska Public Media

The College of Alaska Board of Regents has taken unilateral motion to extend salaries for its full-time college, regardless of ongoing federal mediation with the college’s union on a brand new collective bargaining settlement.

“That is an uncommon step for positive,” mentioned UA President Pat Pitney in regards to the unprecedented motion permitted by the regents throughout a particular assembly Monday.

Pitney mentioned mediation has didn’t carry the college and United Teachers, or UNAN, considerably nearer collectively on the phrases of a brand new three-year collective bargaining settlement.

“And so final Friday we declared that we had been at deadlock,” mentioned Pitney.

With time working out to get a brand new contract permitted and funded by the Legislature earlier than the session ends, Pitney mentioned the college feels compelled to behave.

“It’s the eleventh and a half hour,” she mentioned.

UA college have solely acquired a 1% increase over the previous 5 years, and amongst provisions within the college contract submitted to the Legislature is a 3.5% wage hike for the brand new fiscal 12 months which begins July 1, adopted by 2.5% and a couple of% raises the next two years. Pitney mentioned the will increase are according to these in different UA worker agreements earlier than the Legislature.

“UNAC”s compensation and advantages place in contrast was greater than 4 occasions the extent the college is providing, unsustainable by any commonplace,” she mentioned.

Tony Rickard is a professor of arithmetic training on the College of Alaska Fairbanks and chief negotiator for United Teachers. He mentioned the union has adjusted its proposals to attempt to attain an settlement and desires to maintain speaking.

“This a really puzzling motion by President Pitney and the Board of Regents,” mentioned Rickard. “They appear to suppose that the mediation is over, and it’s not. We mutually agreed to a session that we have now but to have.”

Rickard mentioned UNAC can be on the third and closing mediation session scheduled for Wednesday.

“And we anticipate the college to be there too,” Rickard mentioned.

It’s unclear if the college will attend, however UA lead negotiator David Eisenberg instructed regents on Monday that declaring an deadlock solely means the college shouldn’t be legally required to maintain negotiating.

“That mentioned, clearly we’re going to obtain and take into account any affordable proposals from the union,” mentioned Eisenberg.

There’s some hypothesis {that a} UA college contract might be thought-about by the Legislature outdoors the common session, however Pitney mentioned a particular session is unlikely in an election 12 months.

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