Amid a contract dispute between the Graduate Employees Union and MSU, the union decided to seek arbitration after a grievance filed last month was rejected by the university.
The union formally announced its decision at Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
“MSU administrators should abide by the contract they signed,” union President Scott Henkel said in his speech to the board.
“While we hope that this matter will be resolved soon, it would be irresponsible for us to allow the administration to violate our contract without being held accountable for those violations,” Henkel said.
After the union files for arbitration, an agreed upon third-party person will hear both sides and settle the contract dispute.
The contract states that teaching assistants with at least four semesters of experience will be promoted to the third level of pay in a three-tier system, which is $700 more per year. Henkel said about 200 TAs with four semesters of experience are being paid at level two.
“I think the words ‘at least’ mean at least,” MSU President M. Peter McPherson said.
McPherson said the four semesters is the minimum number of required experience, not the maximum.
He also said both parties agreed to the contract wording during negotiations, and the clause in dispute was written by the union.
Union members argue that “at least” means once a TA has reached four semesters of experience, they should be paid at the third level.
During the meeting, a group of about 20 TAs and supporters picketed outside of the Administration Building, yelling “What do we want? Level three!”
Melissa Hasbrook, a College of Education TA with five semesters of experience, said that while she is being paid at the third tier, some colleges are making the requirements eight or 12 semesters.
Hasbrook said the debate about the language is a test for the contract, which was signed in May 2002.
“Our understanding is that this is the first year and that this is the first issue that would decide whether this is a functional piece or whether it means nothing,” she said. “If they can break us at this point, then they don’t have anything else to worry about.”
McPherson said contract disputes are usually expected in the first year.
