Why the Confusion?

Why would anyone go out on strike only to return to work for the same settlement two weeks later? The answer of course is no one would. The situation is so clear; I don’t see what all the confusion is about. The Unions walked out as a group because an average salary increase of 3.62% for all three Unions was too low. Broken down by Union, this amount was lower than the percentage increases of the last contract and not enough for those making low salaries to realize a basic cost of living increase. One must remember that the Full Time Faculty did not strike alone, but in solidarity with Classified Staff and Part Time Teachers who on average make significantly less and therefore need a higher cost of living increase to make ends meet.

After further concessions in negotiations by the Unions on salary increases, the two sides were described as only $160,000 a year apart or $800,000 over the span of the five year contract. The strike ended not because the Administration moved or suddenly “found” the money as the media has reported, the UNIONS actually raised the money necessary with promises from the state of $800,000 to fund the salary increases and end the strike.

The primary cause of the College’s woes is a lack of funding from the city and a change in funding from the state. This has been well documented by the Administration. But they have been unable to find funding for the College and have had to raise tuition and go after the salaries and benefits of workers.

This $800,000 has not been accounted for in any of the media and PR reports from the Administration that I have seen. It effectively raises the 3.62% number to a level that meets the needs of the three Unions. The confusion has arisen because the Board has decided that it did not want to put the $800,000 into the salary increases so that it appears that the Administration had not moved from its final offer. In addition, it artificially sets the average percentage increase at a lower basis level in advance of the next round of negotiations in five years.