Faculty Parking | Photo by Soham Parikh | The Wright State Guardian
On Jan. 2, Wright State University’s newly appointed President, Dr. Susan Edwards, sent an email to students regarding the Teamsters Local 957 negotiations.
The Teamsters consists of tradespeople and groundskeepers of the university.
“They tirelessly tend to the needs of our university by working at all hours. They fix the problems that pop up in the night. They clear the snow to make our campus safe. They shepherd our students on Raider Ride. They are critical to the success of Wright State,” said Edwards.
According to Edwards, bargaining has been ongoing since the fall semester and the university is doing what they can to help reach a compromise.
This news comes at a time nearing the one year anniversary of WSU’s faculty strike that lasted for three weeks last January.
“I want you to know that my leadership philosophy is that people come first. It’s a conviction that cuts to my core. It has been with great frustration that I have witnessed our university, while navigating our critical financial recovery, be forced to make choices that stray from valuing our employees as much as they deserve,” said Edwards.
The negotiations will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Per the email, Edwards makes a point to articulate that these facts do not mean there is another strike in WSU’s near future, but to be aware of what the coming negotiations will consist of.
According to Edwards, there are 24 articles agreed upon and five outstanding issues in the Fact-Finder report.
Edwards ended the message by ensuring students that WSU will do what is reasonably within the university’s power to end negotiations between campus and the Teamsters.
