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March 17, 2006
WOU's Faculty Negotiations and President Minahan's Talk
Hey, what good is "rants and such" if you can't blast off a good rant once in a while? So, if you're easily offended, read something else.
I attended the "meeting" on Wednesday at noon. It was generally a good meeting and Pres. Minahan did an EXCELLENT job! The faculty member's comments that "we don't have the money" (Pres. Minahan's basic position) isn't a good premise for "negotiating" because it's always the first move in any negotiation was very interesting. And, I think, also very weak. Just because it's been used elsewhere as an excuse, doesn't mean it is never true. In the current circumstances, PM's (Pres. Minahan's) premise is TRUE. I'm convinced that PM has carefully considered WOU's financial status. Further, he KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. Who else has the knowledge of this place to match his? PM has WOU's best interests at heart, and is sincere in making his offer as good as it can reasonbly be. In fact, his offer is based on pretty shaky financial predictions. He could easily justify a lower offer based on WOU's current financial picture. The related position of "numbers lie" therefore PM's numbers lie (or are inaccurate) is also weak for the same reasons.
There was also a comment to the effect that faculty aren't the only ones bearing the financial burden here at WOU. As an unclassified employee I say RIGHT ON! We've ALL been under serious financial restrictions for at least the last three years, if not longer. I've seen my friends get layed off, got my "90 day" letter, had my own salary frozen, and had to do without such frivolous things as training and reference books. My point is that the weak financial position of WOU is not a new topic. Neither is it a frivolous negotiating "pawn", with a secret pile of money being hidden at the end of the rainbow. The faculty's demands don't seem to take the reality of the current situation into account.
I've just got to throw this out, too. We're suffering the real and serious effects of really weak leadership the past few years. Real and serious financial consequences as well as losses in many other areas. We now have strong leadership. This one fact will go a long way toward turning things around here at WOU. I hope to be part of the rebuilding effort.
Good job PM! Faculty, please reconsider what you're about to do to this place. I do not call your position "greedy" so much as it is just damn bad timing. WOU does not need any more bad press. WOU needs you to suck it up for another two years.
Posted by rossm at March 17, 2006 9:23 AM
Comments
I totally agree. As a classified employee, I guess I'm in a slighty more stable position so I really feel for the unclassified. But I've been here ten years, had my pay frozen for the last two years, and have seen my share of budget crunches - ie. the elimination of my previous department and director. I really fell Dr. Minihan is being honest with the fac/staff and the offer is a good one. If the money is not there where do you expect it to come from to match a 14% raise to faculty? The negative publicity is hurting WOUs future more than anything, and don't think that front page Statesman Journal articles about the woes of Western are going to help the faculties cause.
Posted by: Nathan at March 23, 2006 10:55 AM
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