By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Bowling Green State University faculty would receive 3-percent pay raises in each of three years under terms of a tentative labor agreement.
The new contract, the second negotiated by the BGSU Faculty Association, was reached last week following months of bargaining. The existing pact expires June 30. If approved by union members and university trustees, the contract goes into effect July 1.
Stephen Demuth, one of the lead negotiators for the faculty union, told Faculty Senate Tuesday that conducting the talks using Interest Based Bargaining proved very helpful. He described it as “a very collegial effort.”
“We’ve built up a lot of good will to solve problems and push the university to higher levels,” he said.
In her remarks, President Mary Ellen Mazey said that BGSU’s union negotiations could serve as a model for other institutions.
Demuth handed out a sheet explaining highlights of the contract.
Among those are:
• The contract includes new incentives to professors who secure external grants.
• Premiums for health insurance will remain unchanged.
• The same-sex domestic partner will transition to spousal benefits in Jan. 1, 2017.
• The cost of parking will gradually increase to $135 a year in the third year of the contract.
• A number of committees to address specific concerns will be formed, including for labor-management issues, professional development, and better integrating the Bowling Green and Firelands campuses.
Forums will be held next week on both campuses to go over the details of the agreement. Members of the union will vote during the third week of April.
The trustees will consider the contract at their meeting on May 6.
