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Photos by Devin Courtright/The Advocate
At the faculty negotiation meeting Oct. 13, the faculty negotiation team sits on the left and the administration's negotiation team sits on the right.
Administration won't meet without state mediator
The Advocate
The MHCC administration announced Wednesday it will not meet with the full-time faculty association in contract negotiations without a state-appointed mediator.
The administration's chief negotiator, Randy Stedman, told the faculty of this decision at a Wednesday afternoon bargaining session.
It was the last scheduled session before expiration Saturday of the state-mandated 150-day negotiation period. Negotiations began in May.
Sara Williams, a math instructor and the faculty's chief negotiator, said Thursday, "We offered to meet next Monday and they refused."
Stedman said Thursday, "There's been no substantial progress on any of the economic issues." He said the administration feels a mediator is necessary due to this lack of progress.
The administration will contact the Employment Relations Board Oct. 23 to request a mediator. The ERB will then assign a mediator at the earliest possible date available.
"The administration is ready (to continue negotiations) as soon as a mediator is available," said Stedman.
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