BY JOE WESSELS and PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Professors at the University of Cincinnati say they are close to a contract with the school and expect to avoid a strike scheduled for Monday.
But another group of employees may still walk out.
The union representing about 850 clerical and service workers says no progress has been made in its negotiations, and it is preparing to strike.
The university, which had offered no raises to professors this year, agreed to a 2 percent raise for faculty, said officials with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter at UC. That would be followed by 3 1/2 percent raises each of the next two years.
"We made significant progress. We are happy that it looks that we will be able to avoid a strike," said James Cebula, president of the UC chapter. "I think the administration made the right decision to give the faculty an adequate raise."
The union represents nearly 2,000 UC professors. Their contract expired Aug. 31, and members voted Oct. 18 to authorize a strike. The union last went on strike in 1993, disrupting classes.
University spokesman Greg Hand, though, said no official agreement had been reached. In the past, Mr. Hand has said uncertain state funding and declining enrollment were forcing the university to take a hard stand against raises. Negotiations are to continue today with the faculty representatives.
While the professors appeared to be nearing a contract, representatives of UC's Service Employees International Union-District 925 (SEIU) continued to prepare for a strike by support staff, technical staff and paraprofessionals.
"We've had no movement at all," said Carolyn Schwier, president of the 925 chapter. Leaders have scheduled a meeting Thursday to update members.
A one-day strike on the first day of classes in September caused no major disruptions at any of the university's campuses. The union represents employees in such departments as registration, parking support, financial aid, admissions, purchasing and the library.
Leaders with the SEIU have scheduled a Thursday membership meeting to update workers on negotiations and to detail strike preparations. The union has a negotiating session scheduled for Friday.
