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Trustees approve new USF faculty contract
"We should really break out the champagne," USF president Judy Genshaft said as nearly two years of dispute end.
By RON MATUS
Published December 3, 2004
TAMPA - After nearly two years, the feud is finally, officially, over.
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new contract with the faculty union that includes raises averaging 5 percent.
"We should really break out the champagne," said USF president Judy Genshaft. "This is a major, major accomplishment."
The move follows months of bitter back-and-forth between union and USF officials. At a trustees meeting in August, Roy Weatherford, president of the school's United Faculty of Florida chapter, promised "more dramatic action" if a decent contract wasn't forthcoming.
He had a different tone after Thursday's vote.
"I don't remember how to make a nice speech anymore," Weatherford told an amused board of trustees.
"Please try," Genshaft quipped.
USF faculty voted in favor of the contract two weeks ago. It preserves a summer pay formula that had been in place under the old contract and became a key sticking point in negotiations.
Under the new contract, USF will set aside a pool of money equal to 5 percent raises. As much as 4 percent will be doled out based on performance evaluations. The other 1 percent will be distributed at the discretion of department chairmen.
In other action Thursday, the trustees approved increases in several student fees to pay for athletic facilities and student government activities.
The board okayed an athletic fee increase of 42 cents per credit hour and an activity and service fee hike of 79 cents per credit hour. A student taking 15 credit hours per semester will pay about $36 more per year.
The board also approved either new or increased fees for a wide range of courses.
The additional $375,000 raised annually by the athletic fee will go toward operating a new athletic facility. The additional $474,000 in activity and service fees will help fund student clubs and travel expenses for students presenting research findings.
[Last modified December 2, 2004, 23:55:11]
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