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The Executive Committee has settled on the following principles which will guide us through the upcoming negotiations: The current, ongoing contract
negotiations are especially challenging.
The University has made wage and salary proposals that would
drastically affect the standard of living for the faculty and, citing
concerns over enrollment and the national economic gloom, they have no inclination
as of yet to move on these vital bread-and-butter issues. A full explanation of these issues is given
on the following pages. On the positive side, we have made substantive
progress on important issues such as greater transparency in the promotion
and tenure process and greater job security for our non-tenure track brothers
and sisters. However, due to
intransigence on the part of the University, there has been little progress
on the issues that most directly affect our lives: wages and benefits. We have been told, by both the University
Administration and by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Edward Travaglianti, that LIU faces enormous financial strains
due to changing demographics that adversely affect enrollment at CW Post and
precipitous declines in enrollment at the satellite campuses. Adding to this pressure has been the
decision by Moodys to downgrade the debt of the
United States, which has led to a precipitous drop in the stock market;
events that could negatively impact the endowment cash flow of the University. We recognize these challenges and have
offered to work with the University on a wage and benefits package which will
strengthen the University while also preserving the standard of living of the
faculty who are the heart and soul of the University. Our proposals have fallen upon deaf ears! In two months, the University has
not shown any willingness to work with us on a mutually fair and beneficial
wage and benefits package. They have
not moved from their initial draconian positions. Their “offer” , detailed within is: ·
4 years of 0% raises ·
Increasingly punitive
healthcare contributions ·
Possibility of a
small raise in the 5th year if enrollment increases This is unacceptable! Freezing pay indefinitely,
cutting benefits, and hoping some students walk in the door is NOT a
Strategic Plan! We are willing to work with the
University in adverse times; we cannot be expected to shoulder the
consequences of a 25-year leadership vacuum at the highest levels. We
want the students to succeed! We
want the University to succeed! We
want to be in the classrooms on September 7th! We
WILL NOT surrender our futures for their past mistakes! There is still time, but we must stand
strong and united! The Administration
MUST be made to realize that THEIR intransigence
will have consequences that would cripple the University. We Will Work With THEM They MUST be Willing to Work with Us! In solidarity and strength Edward J. Donahue, President
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