Hofstra University faculty contract extended again: What to know about the union negotiations
Hofstra University. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Hofstra University and its faculty union have extended professors’ contracts through Wednesday, ensuring that classes will remain in session as the two sides continue working toward an agreement.
The faculty will vote on a proposed contract next week, ideally before the existing contract expires, though the exact date has not yet been set, Anthony Basile, president of Hofstra's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said in an interview. The chapter represents almost 600 faculty members.
“We’re still negotiating,” but mainly “buttoning up loose ends,” Basile said.
“The administration and we were unified in that we didn't want to resort to go on strike, but you know, make no mistake, we were ready to go, and I think that that was key to moving the needle from unfair to fair,” Basile said. “Our goal was to try and make sure that we can come to an agreement so that the students are not disrupted, and that's what I think has happened, and I'm happy about that.”
Basile declined to disclose details of the agreed-upon salary, benefits and other contract provisions.
A Hofstra spokeswoman, Terry Coniglio, said in a statement that the administration and faculty union “have agreed to extend the current contract into next week as the parties work to finalize their new agreement.” She declined to discuss specifics.
Professors’ previous five-year contract had been set to expire at midnight Aug. 31, but it was extended until Friday after the two sides made “significant progress” over the past weekend, according to the union. The agreement to extend it a second time was reached on Friday morning, Basile said.
According to Basile, the administration had proposed a salary increase of 2.5% in the first year, followed by 1.5% annual increases in the following four years, as well as higher costs for health insurance and other benefits. The faculty union proposed raises of 6.5% each year to make up for the impact of inflation and a salary freeze members agreed to during the pandemic.
Basile, an accounting professor, said that since 2019, top administrators’ pay has risen by 23.2%, keeping pace with inflation. He said by contrast, faculty salaries have lost ground after inflation, increasing by just 12%.
Last month, the faculty union held a strike authorization vote, with 99% of those participating approving a potential walkout. “I've been there 36 years, I've never seen our faculty mobilize and unify as much as I saw it this time,” Basile said.
The union and administration last negotiated a contract 10 years ago. A strike has not taken place since 1988, according to the union.
Maura McDermott covers education. Since joining Newsday in 2012, she also has worked on the investigations team and covered real estate and the business of health care.
