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Eastern Michigan University, faculty union reach tentative agreement to end strike

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University faculty strike outside Welch Hall along Cross Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

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This story has been updated to include comment from the EMU-AAUP

YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University has reached a tentative contract agreement with its faculty union, bringing an end to a strike that started last week.

EMU announced the agreement with the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors late Sunday, Sept. 11, after a “marathon bargaining session” between the administration and faculty union bargaining teams during the weekend that went late into Saturday and Sunday.

Faculty are returning to the classroom and a full schedule of classes beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Details about the agreement were not provided by EMU.

The EMU chapter of the AAUP, which has roughly 500 members, went on strike Sept. 7 after the faculty contract expired on Aug. 31. The tentative agreement must still be ratified in a vote by the EMU-AAUP.

The administration and faculty had been at odds for weeks over salary increases and a health care plan.

“After three days on strike and four days on the picket line, we’ve got a deal,” said Matt Kirkpatrick, associate professor of English language and literature at EMU and chair of the EMU-AAUP negotiating team. “This is an important victory for our members – and most importantly for our students. We took a stand to maintain and strengthen quality education at EMU, and this agreement moves us forward.”

Details of the proposed new contract will be discussed at an upcoming EMU-AAUP union meeting, where members will vote on ratification of the tentative agreement.

Prior to the tentative agreement, a Washtenaw County judge denied EMU’s emergency request last week to order striking faculty back to the classroom immediately.

EMU administration filed a suit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on Sept. 7, asking the court to bar the EMU-AAUP from continuing its strike that began on Wednesday. The university claimed the strike is illegal under Michigan law.

Judge Carol Kuhnke stated she was “not persuaded” the issue needed an immediate ruling, however, setting a hearing for Sept. 16, where both the union and administration could make arguments about whether to grant the university’s request for a restraining order to stop the strike and send faculty back to class.

READ MORE:

Judge denies EMU administration’s request to order striking faculty back to class now

‘Teaching myself is not ideal’: EMU students frustrated with faculty strike

500 Eastern Michigan University faculty members begin Day 1 of indefinite strike

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