PSU Faculty Approve Fair Share
On May 19, 1995, the members the AAUP collective bargaining
unit at Portland State University passed a "Fair Share Agreement"
by a 65% to 35% margin. As a result of this action, faculty
members who directly benefit from the activities of the PSU AAUP
Chapter will pay a share of the collective bargaining and contract
maintenance costs. The fair share amounts will be deducted from
faculty pay checks, with the amount being determined by salary
rate, FTE, contract length, and tenure status. The fair share costs
are modest. For example, for nontenured faculty, a member earning
$25,000 would pay 0.15% of salary ($37 per year) and member earning
$50,000 would pay 0.24% ($121). For tenured faculty, a member
earning $25,000 would pay 0.34% ($86 per year) and a faculty member
earning $50,000 would pay 0.52% ($254).
Fair share contributors do not vote in union elections and
cannot serve on the Executive Council. For a few dollars more per
month, faculty may join the AAUP and enjoy membership benefits,
including voting privileges, Council eligibility, subscription to
Academe, membership in the State Conference, reduced subscription
rates to a variety of professional journals, and optional
insurance.
Because of the terms of the contract, the State had to delay
for at least seven months the 6% salary reduction called for by
Measure 8; also, because of the contract, the application of
remaining sick leave to pension computation may be retained. The
collective bargaining agreement delineates legally binding, open
procedures to deal with retrenchment, grievances, and promotion and
tenure.