UFF tells FGCU trustees bargaining left faculty doubtful process was in good faith

Dr. Carolynne Gischel, president of the United Faculty of Florida–FGCU chapter, delivered the union’s standing report under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and raised concerns about the most recent contract negotiations.

Gischel summarized changes that returned student success counselors to the bargaining unit after a PERC determination and said the union had sought increases to base salaries for in-unit faculty. She said the administration initially asked the union to make the opening salary offer; the union proposed $5,000 per faculty member and later offered $3,500, while the administration maintained a 2% across-the-board offer and increased a one-time payment from $1,000 to $2,300. Gischel said faculty preferred base salary increases over one-time payments and expressed frustration with the bargaining process, stating that "faculty did not believe bargaining was conducted in good faith." (Dr. Carolynne Gischel)

Trustee Richard Eide asked for specifics about the bad-faith claim. Gischel explained the union’s view that staff increases had been announced prior to meaningful faculty negotiations, and that administration counteroffers remained unchanged at 2 percent with no substantive back-and-forth. Trustees asked follow-up questions; Gischel said the union’s priority was rebuilding trust and returning to interest-based bargaining.

Why it matters: the report flags labor-relations friction at the university and documents a union assertion of faulty bargaining practice. Trustees requested clarification; no formal finding or corrective action was recorded at the meeting.