University of Kansas GTAC Contract Negotiation Resolution

Since May 2005, the Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition (GTAC) at the University of Kansas has been attempting to negotiate a new employment contract with the University. Despite GTACs best efforts, very little progress has been made, and for the second consecutive academic year the Universitys teaching and research assistants face the prospect of working under the conditions of the expired contract. During this time KUs GTAs have not received merit or base-pay raises. Many continue to earn an annual salary of $10,000, almost $4,000 below the national average* and KUs own estimated cost-of-attendance.

After attempts at mediation failed to produce an agreement, GTAC requested that a neutral third party be enlisted to examine the unresolved issues and propose a fair and reasonable settlement. In Kansas, this fact-finding process is not legally binding, and the university administration is free to reject the ruling of the fact-finder.

In an effort to bring these negotiations to a rapid and equitable conclusion, GTAC pledges to accept sight-unseen whatever settlement the fact-finding process produces. We urge you to sign the below petition to encourage the University of Kansas administration to join the union in this commitment to accept the fact finders proposal.

Accepting this third-party settlement will allow the Universitys teaching assistants to focus more fully on their research and teaching duties and will also allow the KU administration to redirect their resources to improving the educational climate of the university. As the fact-finding process is by definition neutral, it offers the best opportunity for the whole University of Kansas community to bring this matter to a just and fair conclusion and focus on what is most important to all of us: our educational mission.

* According to the 2004/2005 "Annual Survey of Graduate Assistant Stipends" produced by the University of Florida the average GTA salary across the United States was $13,863 that academic year.

I, the undersigned, do hereby urge the administration of the University of Kansas to join the Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition in agreeing to accept without modification whatever solution is produced by the neutral Fact-Finding process.