OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The clock is ticking on a strike deadline at Oakland University.
Educators and OU have been negotiating a new contract for weeks. Wages are one of the biggest issues, with the deadline approaching on Tuesday (Sept. 3).
It was quiet on campus at Oakland University, which is to be expected on Labor Day. However, a labor dispute between educators and unions could delay the entire school year.
If a deal isn’t reached by Tuesday’s deadline, faculty could strike
“I feel like I’m worried it’s going to push us back,” said student Madison Frescura.
Frescura is a freshman at OU, but a potential faculty strike could delay when her classes begin.
“I have no contact with the teacher, no idea when it’s going to start or if it’s happening anymore,” Frescura said.
Educators and the university are at odds over a new contract. The union says they’ve agreed on most issues, but two major sticking points remain retirement contributions for guest lecturers and wage increases for full-time staff.
“On Labor Day, it’s important for us to remember all the work and the fights that have happened before us, and in the past 15 years, we haven’t gotten a single raise that’s been higher than inflation,” said Jason Moore, associate professor, and union rep for OU. “So our real wages are going down every year, and we have to, at some point, stand up for not taking a loss.”
Oakland University says the union rejected a total pay increase of 21% over five years and that its demand of a 30% increase is “Neither feasible nor sustainable.”
“When they raise tuition four and a half percent, and our raises are only one or 2% per year, it tells us that we aren’t as important as other things,” Moore said.
With the clock ticking, Frescura hopes a deal can be reached before her school year is affected.
“I don’t know how my class load is going to go, and then if it gets pushed back or we’re not in classes, it will put more stress on me, especially if this is going toward my future career,” Frescura said. “I hope we have enough time to learn and possibly can.”
The contract originally expired on Aug. 14 but was extended to Sept. 3.
Both sides are set to meet again with a mediator on Tuesday. If a deal is not reached, a strike could be authorized.