Eastern Michigan University unions reject President Susan Martin's call to forgo raises
Five unions at Eastern Michigan University have rejected President Susan Martin’s request that they forgo already-negotiated raises for next year to help the university close a gaping budget hole.
The university’s All-Union Council delivered the news to Martin at its regular meeting with her Tuesday, said All-Union Council and faculty union president Susan Moeller. Instead, the unions want the university to cut what a union press release called “highly subsidized athletic department and highly compensated administrative salaries and expenses.”
Eastern Michigan University staff members spell out "zero percent" in celebration of last year's announcement that EMU would not raise tuition, housing costs and fees.
EMU photo
Martin last week said the university plans to make cuts to both the athletic department and administration. The university has said that it will likely need to cut 70 positions and lay off 50 people.
“We understand that this is a difficult time and that these issues present challenges to many of our faculty and staff,” EMU Vice President for Communications Walter Kraft said Thursday.
The press release said unions have already made “tremendous sacrifices” by shouldering more of the cost of their health insurance. In a phone interview, Moeller said the raises workers received in 2010 did not cover the increased insurance costs.
The release cited several examples of what it called “bloated administrative costs”:
- A raise of $30,000 for EMU’s police chief, bringing his salary to $169,000. Moeller said that raise alone would cover what the administration is asking the police union to give back in pay raises.
- The hiring of a health care consultant for $100,000.
- The recent hiring of a new basketball coach before the current coach's contract was up. The release said this hire incurred additional costs of between $300,000 and $500,000.
Kraft reiterated today that administrative costs would be cut.
“Administration and administrative areas are a definite focus of the restructuring that is taking place,” he said.
He also noted that non-bargaining employees will not get raises next year, as announced in April.
The release also criticized the university for “the cost of EMU’s excessively subsidized athletic program that is currently supported (to the tune of $16 million per year) from student fees and the General Fund.”
Kraft said athletics is among areas being targeted for cuts.
“The budget process we are undertaking is rigorous and we are looking at all areas, including the Athletic Department,” he said.
The state plans to cut university appropriations for next year by 15 percent. In EMU’s case, that translates to $11.4 million. EMU also projects a $12 million increase in expenses, leaving a $23 million to $24 million budget hole.
Moeller has challenged those numbers, saying the university inflates expenses and underestimates revenue.
The general fund budget for the current fiscal year is $280.9 million. The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents is expected to approve the budget and tuition for next school year at its June 21 meeting.
EMU kept tuition, fees and housing rates flat for this school year, but expects to have a tuition increase for next year. EMU freshmen living on campus this year paid about $8,000 per semester for tuition, fees and housing.
EMU needs to keep any tuition increase under 7.1 percent or a provision in the budget appropriation allows the state to impose additional cuts beyond the 15 percent the university already must accept.
Besides Moeller, president of the faculty union, representatives of EMU’s clerical union, professional technical union, lecturers union and police officers association attended the meeting with Martin on Tuesday.
Comments
Mike K
Sun, Jun 12, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.
Surprise, surprise, surprise........... Although kudos to Martin for at least asking. Like they say, you'll never get a date unless you ask. The posturing is what I find offensive, "it is unfortunate.. has unnecessarily threatened employees, causing worry and anxiety...". Welcome to the real world. That's why xanax is so popular.
snapshot
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.
All the talk about education being primary to the future of Michigan and unions are making it unaffordable even at the K-12 levels. Go figure. that is if you were lucky enough to be taught math skills.
LimaBean
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
If you believe that the cost of higher education is becoming unaffordable, then the people to complain to are the ones in Lansing. The primary driver of tuition increases at public universities like EMU has been the continual cuts in state funding. 20 years ago, state funding accounted for something like 75% of the operating costs of the university, and today it is more like 25%. Obviously some cuts can be made and efficiencies can be found, but there comes a point (and we're long past it) where SOMEBODY has to pay for the basic cost of keeping the lights on. If it isn't the state, then it will be the students. So we apparently agree - in a state that claims to value education, it is deplorable that people at the state level are unwilling to put their money where their mouth is, and actually properly fund education.
jjc155
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:22 p.m.
Looks like tuition will be going up when the teachers get their raises.
LimaBean
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.
Tuitions will be going up no matter what. You cannot expect any school to sustain cuts year after year, and still be able to provide the product. This year the state cut the funding for public universities by 15%. Last year, EMU held tuition at 2009 rates, but with a 15% budget cut, you cannot expect them to do it again. Be real.
HaeJee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.
Correction - professors. You can blame the tuition increase to administration not willing to cut their own personal expenses.
Bob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
Wonderful. Have these unions looked around to see what most educators are giving up?
HaeJee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
When I worked at EMU few years ago, I made 26k salary in the clerical union while finishing my masters degree. I was given a 2% raise and then had threats of layoffs every year. EMU does not pay well and it not a great working environment. You can't compare U of M to EMU. The EMU professors are wonderful and the only positive thing I can say about the university.
LimaBean
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
Bob, have you looked at what the typical salary is in these unions? I have taught full time at EMU for more than a decade, and the median salary in my union of full time instructors at EMU is about $36,000. The median salary for the clerical union (another very large group of employees being asked to pass up raises) on this campus is about $34,000. People like to assume everybody here is getting rich but the facts simply don't support that assumption. Maybe if EMU paid people a decent wage to start with, and maybe if EMU managed the resources we have in a better way, and maybe if the disparity between administrators' pay and everybody else's pay weren't so huge, and maybe if athletics were taking a fair share of the cuts (instead of slashing and burning academics and making - at best - superficial cuts to athletics), THEN, maybe employees would be more willing to accept cuts in already-meager salaries.
Ryman
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Is this story like 'Back to the Future' where the picture fades and changes when the past or future changes? I am supposed to vote around 11 am today and this story was already posted with the outcome of my vote? Neat technology..
Ryman
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
LOL
AACity12
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
She already knew that.
Ryman
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
There... I just voted..
Cindy Heflin
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.
I spoke to both Susan Moeller and Bill Heilman, president of the professional technical union, about this. Both said a representative of the union was at the meeting where union leaders told Susan Martin the unions, including the professional technical union, would reject her request. Heilman also confirmed his union is voting today.
BJ Walraven
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
It is difficult to believe this story as the professional/technical union is voting on this issue today from 7-9AM and from 11AM-1PM.
AACity12
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
Let the union bashing begin.....now!
HaeJee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
The whining is due to adminstration always wanting to cut the pay of educators, yet still fund the budget of administrative expenses.
jrigglem
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
I like Unions as much as the next guy. I, however, don't like the whining that comes from the EMU faculty. Especially some of the higher paid faculty.
Technojunkie
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
The unions demand the same pay raises that private sector workers have been getting these past few years... oh, wait... I'm in total agreement about administrative and athletics program waste though. Health care: switch to high-deductible insurance paired with Health Savings Accounts. Saves a small fortune in bureaucratic overhead compared to micromanaged full coverage.
johnnya2
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
Until you actually NEED health care and have to pay that high deductible.
northside
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
If Eastern's faculty were paid fairly (fair = same as similar institutions) my guess is that they would accept this. But when you're already underpaid and had to fight hard just to get a 2% raise, having that taken away stings.
LimaBean
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 12:15 a.m.
No - try looking at the schools that EMU itself said were "comparable" when they went through the last couple of rounds of negotiations.
Dog Guy
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:35 p.m.
Are you suggesting pay parity with U of M?
johnnya2
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:24 p.m.
They have already taken a pay cut due to increase health costs, so now they want another CUT. It is a cut. If you tell somebody your salary will be $40,000, then only pay them $39,000 that is a cut. Especially if you are paying more out of pocket for health care.
jmac
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:10 p.m.
FYI, "non-bargaining employees" includes all faculty, who also seem to bear the brunt of economic shortfalls at institutions of higher education.
Cash
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:21 a.m.
Give the lowest paid people their raises. It hasn't been that many years ago at a board meeting when a board member asked if it was true that many employees at EMU qualified for public assistance. If you set a standard, say even $50,000 and everyone over that salary didn't get a raise, I would support that. But I think at the same time, Martin should be specific about the cuts that are to be made in another few weeks to athletics and to administrative positions. There's so much distrust there....and it has existed for years. Put everything on the table and be honest. No shell games. Also, AA.com should report the cuts that lower paid employees have already taken. Also report how many temporary workers have replaced permanent workers at a much lower paygrade without benefits. Many of these folks, who clean vomit from the restrooms, take hours explaining bills and financial aid and advising on class loads etc are hard working people who are forgotten in all of the faculty vs admin hoopla. These folks have personally helped student even outside of work hours for decades. Give them a break and let the higher paid folks take the cut.
HaeJee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
@eagleman, I can tell you that there are MANY low paid EMU workers. I use to be one of them. I was paid 26K annual salary with 2 week vacation. Since I was putting myself through graduate school, it was a convenient job only. Working at EMU taught me to appreciate every other job thereafter. I also know that the professors are the beating heart to the school and they get kicked around by administration every time their contact expires.
Cash
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
Eagleman, Some are, some aren't. That's my point. The media stresses those who make a lot. It's time to look at the bottom of the scale for a change.
eagleman
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
I am a public employee and while you won't get rich, we do get a fair wage. Low paid? Hardly.
Cash
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
northside, very true. Lowly paid government employees don't draw the hits.
northside
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Cash I doubt we'll ever see a "25 lowest paid" list on this site. It doesn't fit the favorite narrative, that public employees are outrageously overpaid. As I wrote below if EMU's faculty were fairly paid my guess is that they'd probably accept the pay freeze, given budget conditions. But since they are paid less than comparable schools having the meager 2% raise they fought hard to get taken away stings.
Knobby Kabushka
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:11 a.m.
$169,000 for a medium size college police cheif? That's more then what some doctors make...
Cash
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:22 a.m.
And according to Lesko he also gets $65,000 retirement from the City of Ann Arbor.
Knobby Kabushka
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
Chief not cheif, way to early in morning, LOL
cbirm
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
Even University of Michigan one year did not give raises. Only to those making under $25,000. I thought it was a good idea.
Will Warner
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 10:21 a.m.
Dog bites man.