John Brackett, an associate professor of history, has been named chief faculty negotiator in contract talks between the University of Cincinnati and American Association of University Professors.

        Dr. Brackett led the team that almost called a strike in 1998.

Brackett

        He replaces physiology professor John Cuppoletti, who quit last week, saying, “The AAUP asked me to negotiate under certain conditions that I felt compromised my ability to do an effective job and thus were not acceptable to me.”

        Dr. Cuppoletti would not elaborate.

        Dr. Brackett already was a member of the current negotiating team. He was chief negotiator for the current three-year contract, which obtained across-the-board raises totaling more than 9 percent.

        That year, 1998, UC initially offered 0 percent, 1 percent and 1 percent raises over the three years. A strike was averted at the last minute when the administration raised its offer.

        However, that barely kept up with inflation and Dr. Brackett advocates a career compensation plan whose goal is to double professors' purchasing power during their teaching careers.

        To do that, AAUP must win annual raises of 1.5 percent over inflation. That would be 5 percent in the first year of the contract being negotiated now.

        AAUP also wants to catch up for lost ground in recent contracts and its opening proposal was 15 percent in the first year of the new pact.

        AAUP says UC can afford it if it will change its spending priorities; UC says it cannot afford anything like that with rising costs and falling state support.

        “Our greatest strength at the table is the support of a united and determined faculty,” Dr. Brackett said.

        Comments at AAUP meetings indicate that the faculty is united in its insistence on better pay but less certain what it would trade to get it.

        This year, UC is offering 2 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent over three years in a mixture of merit and across-the-board raises.

        The contract expired Aug. 31. As in the past, faculty continue to teach.

        Issues range from pay and benefits to what goes in personnel files and gender equity studies.

        Friday, Dr. Brackett said he would ask hief UC negotiator Mark J. Stepaniak to resume bargaining after weeks of inaction.

        Dr. Brackett said AAUP's proposals won't change because of the change in leadership.

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