KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Western Michigan University chapter of the American Association of University Professors are threatening to strike for the first time since 1977.
The union and the university are trying to negotiate a new contract.
The WMU-AAUP has requested an 8.5% salary increase for 2024-25 and 8.75% increase for 2025-26.
Western is proposing either a 3% raise or $2,500 base salary increase, whichever is greater for the professors.
Union president Cathryn Bailey says faculty members are overworked and underpaid after layoffs prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WMU says the proposal by the union would cost them $25 million. Bailey says those stats are “false and misleading.”
In an August 2024 blog, she said WMU’s revenues have increased by nearly $46 million since the low point during COVID in 2021 and reserves have grown over $381 million.
WMU had 803 faculty member as of the fall of 2023, down from 927 in fall 2019.
Contract talks are at a stalemate.
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