8 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN ADMINISTRATION
NEWS
WEDNESDAY,JULY12,2006
University, GTAs at impasse
Mediator hired to facilitate negotiations between the two groups
BY ADRIENNE BOMMARITO
abommarito@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Representatives of the University of Kansas and the graduate teaching assistants have been negotiating an array of topics since May 2005.
When an agreement couldn't be made, the University declared that the two parties had reached a stalemate and a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was hired. The first mediation was held on June 27.
Some smaller topics were agreed upon, but mediation will continue on July 12 to discuss topics both parties think have more value.
"All the things we care about, we are still working on," Kyle Waugh, mediation volunteer of the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition, said.
procedure and merit raises.
Standing topics include the limited amount of time GTAs have in which to graduate, the grievance
The University set 10 semesters as the length of time GTAs have to finish their graduate degree. However, many think the limit is impossible because of the requirements individual departments have established.
"You can't just wave your magic wand and be done," Katy Martin, mediation volunteer of the GTAC, said.
Waugh and Martin both think the process of earning a graduate degree in 10 semesters is difficult and affects the campus as a whole.
Having a set time limit removed the most experienced teachers for undergraduate students from the classrooms. Those teachers are still at the University completing their degree, but they can no longer teach, Martin said.
Lynn Bretz, director of University Communications, said the University thought the limit was doable.
For those individuals unable to
complete their degree in 10 semesters, the University offers other options, such as being a graduate research assistant.
"Graduate teaching assistants are not a long-term employment,"Bretz said.
Martin agreed.
Brian Azcona, graduate teaching assistant of sociology, and other GTAs protest in front of Strong Hall February 14, 2006. The protesters called for the elimination of the 10-semester limit on GTA appointments. Azcona wore a pig mask and a sign on his back that read "KU Bureaucrat".
"None of us want to hang around here forever," Martin said. "We want to finish our degree and make some money."
The grievance procedure is the process that employees go through when they are unhappy with an issue.
GTAs think the process is unjust because all complaints resort back to the provost office, which makes the ultimate decision.
The GTAs proposed the idea of a committee compiled of representatives from the provost office and the GTAs, which would discuss the problem and figure out a solution. However, the provost would still have the ultimate decision.
Another issue being argued was merit raises.
A merit raise is a set percentage given to faculty based on performance. The amount changes every year depending on how much money the University receives from Legislature.
Departments evaluate their individual GTAs and merit raises are
awarded based on their performance.
"Recruiting top quality GTAs is important to the University," Bretz said. "For us not to offer merit doesn't help recruit."
However, "the administration has denied every GTA for the past two years a merit raise," Waugh said.
—Edited by Dani Hurst