The University of Cincinnati presented its initial pay and benefits counterproposals to faculty negotiators Friday.

        “The first offer is higher than we expected to budget this year,” UC spokesman Greg Hand said.

        The pay offer fell “far short" of what the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) was asking, chief negotiator John Cuppoletti said.

        “Still, we've got something to negotiate with finally,” said Dr. Cuppoletti, a professor of physiology. "Either we'll have to get it done or go on strike. ... We'll get it done.”

        He and his colleagues will spend the weekend preparing their response for Monday's bargaining session.

        UC offered annual merit pay increases of 2, 3 and 3 percent during the 3-year contract. There would be no across-the-board raises as in the past.

        Mr. Hand said that would raise the $65,647 salary average for nine months to $71,037. Summer teaching and other extra work would bring additional pay.

        “That's not unexpected, but it's far short of what we're asking,” Dr. Cuppoletti said of the offer. Moreover, the AAUP accepts merit pay only above a cost-of-living increase and UC's proposal does not include or cover that.

        The AAUP represents 1,990 full-time faculty in 17 colleges on five campuses.

        The faculty wants the rise in the Consumer Price Index plus 1.5 percent every year. That would be 5 per cent in the first year of the contract. The expiring contract increased salaries 9 percent, but faculty want to catch up with salaries paid at other schools.

        Dr. Cuppoletti said “both sides know that salaries have to be raised. We can't compete for faculty at these salaries. We want pay at least equal to Cincinnati Public Schools.”

        UC offered as well to boost the lowest salaries in each rank by up to $3,000. That's much less than AAUP proposed. It sought increases in salary minimums from $7,900 for instructors to $19,510 for full professors.

        But Dr. Cuppoletti said that won't cost anything because none of the faculty covered by the contract is that close to the minimums. UC also asked faculty to accept health benefits similar to those given to administrative employees, some of which are less generous than professors receive.

        The alternative would be some sharply increased premiums for faculty, Dr. Cuppoletti said. “We want to hold even or get better benefits.”

        UC has been hit by unexpectedly high medical costs. Worse, the state provided no money for salary increases and UC has said raises must come from savings or other budgets.

        UC recently cut 2.5 percent from academic programs and 3.5 percent from administrative budgets, and imposed a partial hiring freeze and a tuition increase of 8 per cent for most undergrads.

        Earlier sessions concentrated on noneconomic issues and reached some tentative agreements.

        AAUP's contract expires Friday. No one expects negotiations to affect the opening of classes on Sept. 20.

        If, as happened twice before, AAUP perceives an impasse and strikes, it would come later in the academic year. Dr. Cuppoletti and his negotiating team already have a strike authorization, but that is routine in the run-up to bargaining.

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