Rather than accept a strike as inevitable during the coming fall quarter, the University of Cincinnati faculty and administration recently tried to jump-start contract talks.

        The effort was abandoned after two meetings over the past three weeks.

        “It was money,” John K. Brackett, associate professor of history and a spokesman for the American Association of University Professors, said Friday.

        The association expected to focus on salaries but concluded that UC officials wanted to finance raises from increased faculty payments for benefits, Mr. Brackett said.

        “We attempted to provide an opportunity where we could get a contract settled early,” UC spokesman Greg Hand said.

        It didn't work out because of “the cost of things,” he said.

        Breaking off means that “we're back on the normal schedule for negotiations,” Mr. Hand said. The three-year contract expires Aug. 31 and negotiations are to begin in July.

        Typically, talks continue into the fall quarter, which begins in September.

        Both sides credited President Joseph A. Steger for initiating the pre-negotiation talks.

        The association is expected to ask members for routine strike authorization at its meeting on Thursday.

        Typically, a strike threat is the prerogative of the association.

        However, this year, Dr. Steger pre-empted the union. He predicted that minimal increases in Ohio's teaching subsidy would drive down pay raises to the point that faculty would strike.

        The university professors association says the pay is behind the cost of living and salaries of faculty at similar schools.

        The association is asking teachers at other Ohio public universities how they negotiated pay increases without striking.

        “All the other universities in Ohio are funded by the same state legislature as we are, and their faculties have all received raises without disrupting classes,” said Joe W. Fisher, professor of mathematical science and association president.

        UC faculty struck for a week in 1993 over differences including pay, threatened faculty layoffs and changes in sabbatical leaves.

        Money was the issue in 1998 and a strike was averted at the last moment. The original offer — 2 percent total raise over three years — was raised to 9 percent.

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