Faculty Files Grievance With UH Over Proposed Faculty Pay Cuts

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) filed a grievance over a plan by UH President M.R.C. Greenwood to impose a faculty pay cut.  The UHPA staff called Greenwood’s “Last, Best, Final Offer,” a breach of contract.

The UHPA wants the letter retracted and is demanding a stop from the implementation of the proposed contract changes, pending arbitration.  The proposal calls for a 6.667 percent temporary salary reduction over 18 months, beginning this month (January).

Greenwood said the administration decided to implement its final formal offer in order to sustain operations through the rest of this fiscal year and next.

In a press release yesterday, UHPA staff said the grievance was hand-delivered to Greenwood and seeks documentation of her compliance with a signature by 4 p.m. today, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010.

“We filed this class grievance on behalf of the UH faculty because of UH President Greenwood’s clear breach of contract.  We believe it is only fair to ask for immediate arbitration and to hold UH President Greenwood’s unilateral imposition of salary reductions for UH faculty until we can have an arbitration decision,” said J.N. Musto, UHPA executive director and chief negotiator.
The UHPA claims the changes amount to more than a 15% reduction in pay for faculty.  The figure takes into account the 6.667% pay cut, a payroll lag, staff members say amounts to a 4.2% reduction, and a reduction in healthcare contributions.
(Posted by Wendy Osher)