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Editorial:
We need a resolution, even if it's temporary
It now seems as if students are the only ones taking the faculty contract negotiation mess seriously enough to actually avoid a strike. The whole process has been turned into an "administration said, faculty said" scenario. Both sides are being stubborn when it comes to the three items stalling the contract resolution: retirement benefits, extra teach and summer teach.
The faculty negotiators have insisted a clause be included in the retirement benefits article stating that the conditions only apply to those who join the faculty association after the contract is signed. It seems ridiculous that considering all the issues that have arisen, that the administration wouldn't just do it.
The other areas — extra teach and summer teach — seem to be a matter of common sense. Instructors already make a significant amount less to teach in the summer term. As for extra teach, instead of getting more pay (time and a half) like many other jobs, they get paid less than their regular salary when they work more than their contracted hours. Imagine this — the administration wants to cut the pay for extra teach and summer teach even more. That doesn't seem like a good place to cut a paycheck if you ask us.
Nevertheless, at this point, the faculty is going to have to deal with taking a cut in either summer teach or extra teach if a strike is to be averted.
The Advocate urgently insists the administration and faculty association take a page from the federal government's book and find, at the minimum, a temporary solution in order to avoid a strike.
We have students talking about dropping out of school and postponing their educations if the faculty members they know and respect are forced to strike.
How much more serious can we as students get? That's in addition to the negative reputation MHCC is developing in the community. The talk of a strike has already begun to have its impact. An actual strike will cause irreversible damage. We sincerely hope neither side will let it get to that point.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.