AAUP Contract Approved

The NMU Board of Trustees today approved a new three-year contract previously ratified by the American Association of University Professors. AAUP is the larger of two faculty bargaining units on campus and represents 382 members. The union vote was 226-29 in favor of the proposal.

After receiving no base wage increases the past two years, the new agreement includes a 2.45 percent increase in the first year, along with market adjustments intended to bring salaries in line with comparable faculty in their peer group. Base salaries would increase by 2.3 percent in both the second and third years, when faculty also will be eligible for a 0.25 percent bonus for each percentage point increase in enrollment.

The AAUP union will shift to a new health care plan that includes adjustments to co-pays and annual deductibles. The required health care contribution per member will increase each year of the contract, accounting for a 20 percent share of total health care costs on an annual basis.