RI: GOV. LINCOLN CHAFEE SCREWS RI, ITS UNIVERSITY, AND ITS STUDENTS

One of the great economic engines of the state of Rhode Island is its
University, and THAT IS US.  One of the most attractive reason for
students to come to URI is its faculty.  The quality of the faculty is
central to the student population and their future successes.  To keep
competitive, to keep RI on the cutting edge of research and
scholarship in so many areas, but especially in the expanding fields
of the sciences and engineering, etc., the University needs to offer
its presently underpaid faculty the salary and benefits that other
institutions of higher education and private industry offer our well
credentialed faculty and staff as a matter of course.  Dr. Frank
Annunziato, the executive director of our faculty union, the AAUP,
reports that the Board of Governors of Higher Education, at the urging
of the now infamous Gov. Lincoln Chafee, decided behind closed doors
last night that they no longer want to invest in the future of Rhode
Island by supporting a fairly and long negotiated contract with the
faculty union for a very modest salary increase that virtually only
covers the increases in health care insurance costs that the State is
forcing all employees to pay.

The AAUP bargained in good faith.  The contract with Annunziato at the
helm was fairly negotiated over months of long and difficult sessions.
 It was accepted by both sides.  The board of governors were scheduled
to give its "OK" at a meeting weeks ago.  All the signals were
positive.  Then, the infamous Gov. Chafee stepped in at the last
minute, long after his representatives had a chance to negotiate
differences with the AAUP, and told the Board to reject the fairly
negotiated contract.  The board, being politically appointed by the
Governor, fell right in line with the demands of an unreasonable
politician and voted against the contract last night.

It is my understanding that the AAUP stands firm in the belief that
the board, in rejecting a fairly negotiated contract between the AAUP
and representatives of the board of governors, negotiated unfairly and
certainly not in good faith.  We can only hope, and I am sure they
will, that the AAUP and all good people of faith, will do something to
stand up to the Governor and the Board of Governors.  Tho I am not a
lawyer, It seems to most commentators that there are legal violations
on the part of the infamous governor and his Board that should be
brought to the attention of the courts.  And beyond that, I am with
one of the speakers from the faculty at URI who said that he was up to
any action the AAUP would suggest in an attempt to remedy this just
AWFUL betrayal of "good faith" collective bargaining.

One of the big questions of the night of betrayal was being asked over
and over...."Where is President Dooley?"  The BOG went into executive
session to do its damage to the students, faculty and staff of the
University and the state of RI, and there was no "head man" from URI
to support his faculty and the students.  He knew of the vital
importance of the issue, yet he was a no show.  I, for one, am
terribly disappointed.  Leaving such important work to underlings is
not the hallmark of good leadership.  He should have been there,
especially since in recent weeks it became obvious that the Gov. was
"out to get" the faculty and graduate students at URI.  What was so
important that the President of the University could not be there to
defend his faculty?  ...one of what should be among his top
priorities.  HE FAILED US.  The Governor failed us and certainly, the
Board of Governors failed us and maybe even more importantly, they
failed the University's students and the state of Rhode Island.