WMU Professor's Contracts Expired, Protest Planned

KALAMAZOO (Newschannel 3) - The university's contract with its professors has come and gone. However no deal has been met and agreed on yet.

There is no strike planned by the AAUP union. But there is a picket set to take place Saturday at 5p.m. during CommUniverCity at Western Michigan University's first home football game.

Most of the dispute centers around pay but the professors say the university is also cutting health insurance benefits. The professors union says it may strike if they can't get a deal done soon. If they don't faculty could walk out for the first time since 1984.

Most WMU students walking around campus had no idea faculty was in contract negotiations. Or even that the average full professor at Western makes nearly $93,000. But many agree asking for more is not unreasonable.

"I think they deserve more than that because they're pretty much teaching the future," said Freshman, Kaitlyn Koster.

Many professors and instructors on campus didn't want to discuss the topic with us today, but those that did agree.

"I feel like, and many of my colleagues agree, that the kind of work we do should not be disrespected or slighted" said Associate Professor of English, Nic Witschi.

Professor Witschi says the current contract he and his colleages are operating under gave them a 3.25 percent wage increase last year. But last year cost of living increased more than 4-percent. So they feel they're losing money. Couple that with some of the increases in health care cost sharing being proposed by the administration and it effectively amounts to a pay cut.

"As long as it didn't affect my grades, I guess I wouldn't have a problem with it. But I'm here to get an education and I guess that's what I'd like to do," said Senior, Scott Sale.

Newschannel 3 asked an administrator if they have a back up plan in case the faculty does decide to walk out. They said we don't want to talk about that right now both sides are working towards an agreement.