Bargaining Issue: The Administration's Cuts

Bit by bit, we continue to learn more about the ways in which PSU hopes to address the $21-million shortfall in the 09-11 budget. I have gotten emails and had conversations with members who wonder whether we'll be taking pay cuts and if so, what they'll look like. So far, the bargaining teams for AAUP and PSU have not arrived at a proposal. However, we wanted to pass along information about the plan the upper administration (deans and above) were offered. Along with recent deals by SEIU and others, it's one more data point.

In the coming year, this group of upper adminstrators will take an FTE reduction of 4.6%. It won't affect PEBB enrollment, but will affect retirement (as effective base pay is reduced). In exchange, however, participating workers will receive one "president's leave day" each month. These are effectively vacation/sick days, though they have no real value--they can't be cashed out. However, unused vacation days can be banked while folks take these leave days. All of these new leave days would need to be used up by June 30, 2010.

This deal has not been extended to members of our membership, and mechanically, it's not necessarily a good fit. Still, it's good to know the deals PSU has already struck as we continue to bargain. As always, we'll keep you in the loop, so check back for more.