Lackawanna College is not breaking federal labor law, and instead is working to increase academic excellence and give professors a fair contract, administrators said Thursday.
One week after the faculty union accused administrators of illegally implementing a contract, college officials say union leaders are not willing to negotiate.
"I'm confident what we have done is legal," college President Mark Volk said. "We think what has been portrayed is not accurate."
Last month, the college began to implement its final offer, which included a 3 percent increase in salaries for members of Lackawanna College Education Association. The union and college have been negotiating since 2010, when the contract initially expired. A one-year contact extension expired in 2011.
The college declared an impasse earlier this year and is implementing the first two years of the contract. Under the National Labor Relations Act, if no agreement can be reached after "sufficient good faith efforts," the employer may declare an impasse and then implement the last offer presented to the union. If the union disagrees that a true impasse has been reached, the union can file an unfair labor practice charge for review by the National Labor Relations Board.
Two days after the college informed the union that the administration's final offer was going to be implemented, the union gave the college an offer.
"That offer was not acceptable," Mr. Volk said.
The union is preparing to take the issue to the NLRB, union leaders said Thursday. Union leaders said administrators are not willing to negotiate.
Key issues for the union include salaries, benefits and job security for the approximate 25 faculty positions they represent.
The college's last offer included 3 percent raises the first three years of the contract, plus 2 percent raises the last two years. During the last two years, the raises could go up to 3 percent, depending on the cost of health care.
Full health care for employees and their families, including domestic partners, was also guaranteed for the first two years. During the last three years, depending on costs, the college could require employees to pay a portion of their premiums. That possible amount was not defined.
Union leaders are concerned that no cap exists for health insurance they may be required to pay and fear any cost would outweigh raises.
Faculty members of the private two-year college are some of the lowest paid in the U.S., according to 2011-12 Chronicle of Higher Education data. The average salary of an assistant professor is $35,700, lowest in the U.S. The $45,100 average salary of a full professor is the fourth-lowest, and the $40,000 average salary of an associate professor is the second-lowest, according to the data.
While school officials acknowledge the data, it does not include the benefits given to employees. Paying for full health, vision and dental insurance for families is not typical for a college of Lackawanna's size, according to the college. Union leaders disagree. And while other college employees received raises during the time the union contract was expired, the faculty members received nothing, union leaders said. While a 3-percent raise was given when the contract was implemented, another 3 percent will be given in July, administrators said.
The contract also included a 10 percent reduction in courseload and an increase in pay if professors teach extra classes. But because of several changes in when and how they can teach the overload classes, professors fear they will make less.
The contract also calls for a new evaluation process, in which the faculty member is evaluated by both a peer and administrator. If a standard is not met, there would numerous opportunities for improvement before a removal process would begin, said Jill A. Murray, Ph.D., the college's executive vice president and chief academic officer.
In the previous evaluation process, in which only a peer evaluated the professor, there were no consequences and no process in which skills could be improved, Dr. Murray said. The evaluation process would not occur until the third year of the contract, so it has not been implemented.
Union leaders said the process is undefined and the contract does not include enough protection for union members.
While the college has the "utmost respect for faculty members," the administration wants to give professors opportunities for professional development and for strengthening their skills, Dr. Murray said.
"Our no. 1 focus is providing a high quality education for our students," Mr. Volk said.
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