DR. SINGH:
So the comment was made, it has come to light that the college did not inform faculty or the faculty union. That’s not true. Here’s the evidence, June 30th… Let me give you some background first. And again, this is not for debate, I’m presenting my part right now. The high demand salary was approved by state 2 or 3 years ago, two different buckets, high demand nursing, high demand other programs. This year in June the proviso was removed, from funding, it was removed. It caught all of us off guard, and we were trying to figure out what happened. Once we realized that it was gone, we reached out to the union and informed them on June 30th. Our collective bargaining agreement, the CBA, the language says that any change in funding will have to be bargained. So we are following the contract, the CBA, yes we are following the contract. And so, now just wait a minute, I will go into detail about this in a minute. So, we are following the contract, So, June 30th, this is not… what happened to them since then, June 30th?
<Indicates that VP Suzanne Moreau should speak>
VP MOREAU:
We have actually met <inaudible> We have met and we have been bargaining on this matter with the union. We had a break in the summertime with them and now we are back to school but we consider this matter to be still, it remains active and we will continue to bargain in good faith.
DR. SINGH:
Thank you. And we never said that we are gonna pay you or not pay you. Following the contract, CBA, we said let’s come to the table and bargain, and that’s where things are. We also did some research as to what it means for funding, here that language <inaudible>, because of the selective proviso for nurse educators and high demand faculty salary enhancement was removed in the 25-27 biennium appropriations act, colleges no longer have a legal or policy requirement to to expend funds in these specific ways. That’s language from the state board. Again, all we are doing is following the CBA saying come to the table, and that’s where we are.