1981-01-12; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan
Vol.62  No.44.
© JSWIM'M l.JFB
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859
44 pages
Monday, Jan. 12,1981
Woes follow Administration into '81
by DAVE ALEXANDER
LIFE Editor
CMU may not be able to survive many more years like 1980
without seriously jeopardizing the quality of education and service
to students.
Top administrators at Central are beginning the Winter
Semester by speaking in optimistic terms about the upcoming year.
But, realistically, they must face the cause of CMU woes—lack of
funding from the state Legislature.
"Initially, there is a kind of togetherness when times are bad, but
how long can this keep up?" asked President Harold Abel. "Energy
flags and rewards are not as large.
' "Through this past year, there was no lack in the quality at
Central," Abel continued, "In these times that is an accomplishment, but if times are not better...."
And times do not look as if they will improve drastically from last
semester.
CMU began last year with the impression its state appropriation
would be 9 percent more than the previous year. However, due to
the bleak condition of the Michigan economy, when the 1980-81
appropriation was passed by the Legislature—two months later—
Central received 6 percent less than the previous year.
"The single event that has dominated my time has been the
budget," Abel said. "It effects new programs and all the employee
groups. It's like having cancer—you can't think about anything
else."
Even with the cutbacks in some services and trimming of the
work force through a position review policy, CMU's Board of
Trustees adopted a budget in December with a more than $1 million
deficit. And Vice President for Business and Finance Jerry Tubbs
sees more hardships ahead.
"We guess the Governor's Office will make an executive order
calling back 1 to 2 percent of the appropriation (1980-81) in the next
90 days," Tubbs said.
With such an economic climate, Vice President for Student Affairs James Hill said it takes good leaders in times of limited
resources to think about the long-range future of the institution.
That means tough decisions.
Abel made his share of tough
decisions in 1980.
First, Central's president was
vocal in his opposition to the
Tisch proposal on the November
ballot. Abel was attacked by the
proposal's author, Robert Tisch,
for using his position to campaign against the tax-slashing
plan.
"I have never met Mr. Tisch,
but it was not a well thought
through plan," Abel said.
Another decision came at the
end of last semester when,
facing contract negotiations
with various employee groups
on campus including the Faculty
Association, Abel addressed all
employees announcing an increase in salaries would mean
layoffs.
The employee groups reacted
negatively to the tactic, saying
it constituted bargaining in
public.
"I have to remember
Truman's statement about not
standing the heat, then get out
of the kitchen," Abel said about
the layoff speech. "I feel the vast
majority of the campus was in
support of the plan.
"The leadership of the employee groups had to play a role
and voiced their objections
strongly," he added.
In what Abel said was his
toughest decision, 32 second-
year faculty members were
given pink slips Dec. 12 to
preserve the option in compliance with the faculty contract. The notices were revoked
a week later after the Administration and the FA
bargaining team came to an
"understanding," said John
Cantelon, vice president for
(See "Mood"—page 13A)
CM UfBQng Ho*o6aogti
Bargaining teams indicate goal of no layoffs
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byDAVE ALEXANDER
LIFE Editor and
KIM CLARKE
LIFE Ass't. News Editor
Termination notices were issued Dec. 12 to 32 second-year faculty
members and then rescinded a week later after an "understanding"
was reached between Faculty Association and Administration
bargaining teams.
With this pre-bargaining agreement, the FA Board of Directors
Thursday accepted the Administration's Dec. 17 invitation to enter
collective-bargaining, said FA President Louis Ecker.
Both sides have indicated the agreement signifies a negotiation
goal of ho layoffs.
FA bargaining team members and R. William Dunham, Administration bargaining team spokesman, met several times bet*
^Weeii bec..l9 and. 23 and came to an agreement on three main points.
First, the FA has pledged its support for Central's goal of having
no layoffs during the 1981-82 year. Second,,the FA has indicated it
should not seek faculty compensation increases at the expense of
other employee groups. Thirdly, the three-year budget plan
outlined by the Administration "will serve as a guideline for
decision-making" during the negotiations.
"It is my understanding the agreement was one where both sides
will approach bargaining with faculty supporting the concept of the
no-layoff goal," said Dunham, vice provost for faculty contractual
relations.
Al Lewis, FA bargaining team spokesman, said neither the Board
of Directors nor the Board of Trustees are legally bound by the
agreement.
"We recognized the obvious," Lewis said of the agreement.
"Working with a tight budget."
See related stories pages 3 and 7
Dunham said the "good faith gesture" of the FA bargaining team
allowed the Administration to then rescind the pink slips Dec. 24.
Along with this, the Board of Trustees at its next meeting will
reconsider sabbatical leave proposals tabled at the Dec. 17 meeting.
The entire question of layoffs of faculty members arose at a Dec. 4
convocation.
President Harold Abel addressed the University community on
the budget situation, telling employee groups "... to avoid layoffs,
we are talking about zero increase in personal services for next year
... without that element, layoffs are inevitable."
Dunham and Lewis interpret Abel's message differently.
"As I see it, the equation is a goal of no layoffs and a take-home
pay that is not reduced," Dunham said,
Lewis said the FA "didn't buy both sides of the equation," and
does not endorse the no layoff/no compensation increases alternative.
However, both sides do agree compensation will be an issue to be
negotiated when bargaining opens.
"Yes, we're going to ask for a raise," Lewis said. He added any
increases would be modest.
Provost John Cantelon said any salary increases would be "very,
very minimal."
In preparation for official bargaining, the FA bargaining team is
reviewing CMU's budget to get a better view of the financial
situation.
"We really do disagree at this point how the budget should be
spent," he said. "We're saying there may be 10 percent there or
there may be nothing—we don't know."
CMU currently is facing a $1.1 million deficit.
Cantelon said the Administration will listen to any budget
recommendations the FA makes after the review process.
" The faculty, contract expires June 30.
'
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In Brief
Returning CMU students will be able to pick
up Winter 1981 verification cards in the
University Center Ballroom today through
FHday from 9 a*m. to 4 p*m.
This applies to all students living on and off
campus.
US
LIFE takes a look at
Meithercut Woodland,
a 252*acre tract of
University land.
page 8A
Sports
CMU's men's
basketball team came
alive Saturday in the
second half to oust
Ohio University 64-58.
pagelC
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