Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the roles of labor unions at Oakland University?
A: About 1,200 members of OU’s 3,500 total workforce is represented by five different labor unions. The unions collectively bargain on behalf of a particular group of employees on issues ranging from wages to conditions of employment.
Q: Who does OU-AAUP represent?
A: The Oakland University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (OU-AAUP) represents more than 800 full-time and regular part-time faculty members across the university.
Q: What is the timeline for their current and next contract?
A: The current contract between the administration and OU-AAUP was agreed to in September 2021 and expires in August 2024. Negotiations between the administration’s bargaining team and union’s bargaining team are expected to begin this spring.
Q: How does the bargaining process work?
A: This spring, the respective bargaining teams will begin holding meetings to discuss all issues surrounding the expiring contract. It is the legal responsibility of both teams to negotiate in good faith, working toward an agreement that both accept.
Q: What is the administration’s outlook for negotiations?
A: The administration recognizes the importance of providing faculty members with the resources and tools they need to perform their work, as well as compensating them fairly for their efforts in advancing the University’s educational and research missions. Our goal is to create an inclusive learning environment where all our faculty, students and staff can succeed.
Q: Didn’t the university receive substantial state support in Michigan’s 2023 budget?
A: While OU was one of several universities that received an increase from the latest state budget, it did so because state funding previously had not kept pace with growing enrollment and to bring OU’s per-pupil funding in line with other public universities in Michigan. The administration recognizes that its financial situation has improved since our last round of negotiations, and it is therefore hopeful that the parties will be better able to collaboratively and amicably reach an agreement this year, one which fairly rewards our faculty within our means. We also must be mindful of current and future enrollment trends over the next several years, which call for up to a 10 percent decline in Michigan’s high school population over the next 7 years.
Q: Do the administration and union agree on all issues?
A: Of course not. But despite differing viewpoints on specific topics and past events, we are committed to approaching this process with respect. We are eager to engage in negotiations with a forward-looking perspective, focusing on productive discussions.
Q: Will the administration post updates from the bargaining meetings?
A: To be transparent and keep the campus community updated, OU will provide an overview of what is being discussed and progress made throughout the negotiations. However, we will avoid some specifics as we firmly believe the best place to have discussions regarding the faculty union contract is at the bargaining table, and not in media or social media. The faculty union and the administration both have dedicated teams of individuals diligently working to represent their interests and reach an equitable contract. They deserve to be allowed to do that important work.