Dear Campus Community,
I know many of you may be mindful of the ongoing negotiations the university is engaged in with Teamsters Local 957, the bargaining unit that represents about 113 of our 2,600 full- and part-time university employees.
Negotiations between the Teamsters and Wright State have been ongoing since last fall. The dialogue has been cordial, respectful, and productive, with 24 articles agreed upon and five issues outstanding. A mutually agreed upon third-party Fact-Finder issued a suggested compromise on the remaining outstanding issues, and that compromise was rejected by the Teamsters. In a separate vote, the Teamsters also voted to authorize a strike. Please know that does not mean there will be a strike. In fact, the university and the Teamsters will return to the bargaining table to continue these critical negotiations on Tuesday, January 21.
I want you to know that my leadership philosophy is that people come first. It’s a conviction that cuts to my core. It has been with great frustration that I have witnessed our university, while navigating our critical financial recovery, be forced to make choices that stray from valuing our employees as much as they deserve.
The Teamsters represent our tradesmen and women, our drivers, our groundskeepers, and the custodians of our classrooms and workspaces. They tirelessly tend to the needs of our university by working at all hours. They fix the problems that pop up in the night. They clear the snow to make our campus safe. They shepherd our students on Raider Ride. They are critical to the success of Wright State.
Wright State will continue to do everything reasonable in its power to conclude the negotiations with the Teamsters when we meet again, and I look forward to a great year ahead.
Susan Edwards, Ph.D.
President
