New faculty contract ratified

6:51 p.m., May 19, 2005--The University of Delaware chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with UD that will be effective from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2008. Some 93 percent of those voting--365 faculty members--voted to ratify the contract.

“I am pleased that the successor agreement negotiated by the University and the AAUP was approved overwhelmingly by 93 percent of the voting faculty,” Maxine Colm, vice president for administration, said. “It is clear the faculty recognize that this new three-year contract continues our competitive position in compensation among doctoral-one institutions in the mid-Atlantic region and provides enhanced benefits for new and continuing faculty.”

The new contract includes some changes in benefits and provides salary increases of 3.5 percent, 4 percent and 4.25 percent for each year of the contract, respectively, including across-the-board increases of 2 percent at all ranks each year.

In a letter sent to faculty before the vote, Colm outlined the terms of the new contract. She noted that the total compensation for faculty under the contract honors a commitment by UD President David P. Roselle that the total salary and benefits would meet or exceed the median for doctoral-one universities in the mid-Atlantic region.

“It’s a really great contract that resulted from the hard work of the bargaining teams on both sides,” Linda Bucher, associate professor of nursing and president of AAUP at UD, said. “The salary increases will put all three faculty ranks--assistant, associate and full--at or above the median for our comparator institutions.”

Among the benefit highlights of the contract is a new vision plan for faculty and eligible family members effective July 1, 2005, to replace the existing $175 available for annual health examination for eligible members only. Also, the allowable maximum health care contribution to Flexible Spending Accounts will increase to $3,000 from $2,000.

“It was a very good vote, and it’s a very good contract,” David Colton, Unidel Professor of Mathematics and head of the AAUP negotiating team, said. “One of the most important changes is the child-leave policy, which is gender-neutral. Taken together with summer vacation, it allows for up to 9 months off to care for a newborn or adopted child.”

The new contract provision will allow faculty members who adopt a child under the age of 5 years, as well as those with a newborn, to elect a one-semester administered load that would allow partial or full relief from teaching. The provision will be available to faculty who are primary caregivers during the semester of the birth or adoption of a child or the semester immediately after.

“The just-cause clause also is very important,” Colton said, “because it specifies that there are only three reasons faculty can be terminated--incompetence, gross irresponsibility or moral turpitude.”

The new contract will continue adjusted salary differentials for 11-month faculty, increase overload compensation each year consistent with the across-the-board and merit increases and offer a similar increase in flat rates for credit course instruction in continuing education.

Payments for FOCUS/Distance Learning offerings also will increase in each year of the contract with variable percentage increases among the academic ranks.

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