State fact finder Barry Goldman sides with Central Michigan U. in its ongoing contract dispute with faculty union
Detroit Free Press
November 2, 2011
A state fact finder sided with Central Michigan University in its ongoing contract dispute with the faculty union, saying the university's offer of modest pay raises over several years was "reasonable."
In his report, Barry Goldman said that even though CMU had $228 million in unrestricted reserves as of last year it should not be expected to "eat its seed corn" to pay for raises.
Goldman works for the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. He heard testimony for four days this fall before rendering his opinion in the report released Monday. His findings are nonbinding, but the sides have been waiting for the report to use the recommendations in bargaining.
The faculty union has been without a contract since this summer. A judge ordered union members back to work in September after a one-day strike, but said his injunction would expire 20 days after the report was issued.