Temple says faculty stalling contract talks

Temple University has filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint against the faculty union, accusing it of failing to continue negotiating a contract because of disagreement over union membership fees.

The Temple Association of University Professionals called the action, now before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, "frivolous" and said it was willing to bargain on all contract provisions.

The union, representing 1,280 employees, has been working under terms of its old contract, which expired in October.

A major issue dividing the sides is "fair share," under which 70 percent of the faculty must join the union and pay dues before all members have to pay dues.

The union wants the percentage requirement deleted and all newly hired union-eligible faculty members to be required to pay the fee or give an equal amount to a charity of their choice. Existing faculty would not be affected.

Temple president Ann Weaver Hart, in a letter of appeal sent to faculty this month, described the union request as "inappropriate," amounting to "an attempt to force Temple to do TAUP's organizing."

The charity provision also poses a problem, Hart wrote. Contributions of dues would "not be tax deductible and would put the university in the position of overseeing and enforcing the charitable activities of its employees."

Arthur Hochner, union president, said the union was willing to negotiate the mechanism for the charitable gifts.

He also said the union had issues with other proposals from the administration, including its pay plan.

"We've gotten closer," he said, "but there's still significant differences between us."

The administration has offered 1.75 percent base salary increases for fiscal 2010 and 2011, a 1 percent merit pool for each of those years, and a 1 percent bonus in each if federal stimulus funding comes through.

No base increase would be given retroactively for fiscal 2009, but a 1 percent merit pool would be applied. The contract would be opened later to negotiate salary terms for 2012 and 2013.

The union has proposed that members receive a 2.75 percent base salary increase for 2010 and 2011 rather than the bonus.