The faculty union says there are no excuses for not improving the university's offer for a new contract.
By RON MATUS
Published August 20, 2004
TAMPA - Tensions may have reached the breaking point in an ugly, 20-month dispute over a new faculty union contract at the University of South Florida.
On Thursday, Roy Weatherford, president of USF's United Faculty of Florida chapter, promised the university's Board of Trustees that "more serious, more dramatic action" would ensue once classes start next week.
"The time for excuses is over," Weatherford said, prompting cheers from professors.
Weatherford, who made similar threats in November, declined to be specific, but said a strike was unlikely.
Board members sat in stony silence.
"The union contract is very long, involved and complicated," board chairman Dick Beard said after the meeting. "We're down to one or two points."
Faculty and administrators have been at odds since January 2003, when the old contract expired as the state's system of higher education was reformulated. The new contract must be negotiated with the Board of Trustees.
By the union's account, the two sides are far apart. Among the sticking points: a salary offer the union says would reduce summer teaching pay.
"All we asked for is our old contract back," said Weatherford, a philosophy professor.
In the meantime, the university has refused to process union grievances or let faculty retire on the phased retirement program that was part of the last contract, he said.
Weatherford's remarks came Thursday at the end of an otherwise sunny, 4-hour board meeting.
While trustees congratulated president Judy Genshaft for pushing USF toward the top 50 public research universities, about 50 professors sported stickers that said, "No Excuses at USF."
The turnout is "a sign the faculty are now willing to take more dramatic action, and possibly even militant action," Weatherford said before the meeting.
During his remarks, Weatherford also panned the administration's proposed plan to increase faculty salaries, calling it "smoke and mirrors" that ultimately wouldn't add up to much.
Beard declined to discuss the specifics of the contract talks, saying it would not be appropriate until a deal is struck.
As for the proposed salary hike, he said Weatherford was wrong: "We're really trying to get them the biggest increase they've ever gotten."
"We heard what you said," Beard said after the professor's remarks, expressing hope for a quick resolution and asking if there were any other comments.
Genshaft spoke up, noting a Toyota ad in Time magazine that touts USF officials.
