Arbitrator Rules in Favor of University Employees

A University violated the contract when it refused to include an across-the-board wage increase in the salary schedule used for the duration of the contract. The wage increase was contingent on the University’s fund balance and was therefore not included in the printed salary schedules. However, the parties agreed that the salary schedules would be updated if the contingency was met. The Arbitrator rejected all of the University’s defenses and ordered that all employees be made whole and that the salary schedules be amended to reflect the correct salary.