(WXYZ) — Officials with Oakland University and the school's branch of the American Association of University Professors say the union and school have come to a tentative agreement on a new contract.
Full details of the agreement have not yet been released. However, a university spokesperson said the deal is a five-year contract with a 17.8% salary increase over the life of the contract. Oakland University's original offer had a 16% salary increase.
Union members still have to vote and ratify any possible deal before it becomes official. It's not yet clear when that will happen.
PREVIOUS REPORT: OU semester may be delayed as professors, school still have not reached a contract agreement
The 11th hour agreement averts a possible strike which could have imperiled the start of classes at the Rochester-based school on Wednesday.
“It's a relief, like it's a massive relief," Oakland University junior Graham Kenchington said. "I was worried I was going to be up in the dorms not doing much of anything, and I'm sure a lot of other people were as well.”
OU professors and the school have been negotiating a new contract for weeks now. The deadline to reach an agreement was Tuesday. In the final hours of negotiations, the school and the AAUP said the main sticking point with the contract was money.
“I'm really glad they reached an agreement because obviously, I care about my professors being paid the amount they would like to be,” OU sophomore Mikeala Weller said.
“I'm delighted that our teachers are finally getting the love and respect they deserve and I'm honestly disgusted they had to fight to this extent to get what they deserve,” Kenchington said.
If the two sides didn't reach an agreement by midnight, the AAUP said they were prepared to head to the picket line, instead of classrooms Wednesday.
