University of Washington Faculty Merit Pay
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October 26, 2006 - UW mailed checks to class members. If you are an eligible class member and do not receive a check by November 3, 2006, contact the University of Washington at settle06@u.washington.edu or go to the website www.washington.edu/president/facultyclassactionsettlement, or write to Faculty Salary Class Action Settlement, University of Washington, Box 351237, Seattle, WA 98195-1237. August 29, 2006 - Claim forms due from former UW faculty members. June 23, 2006 - Claim forms sent out. Claim forms were required only for class members not employed by the UW on May 31, 2006 (including retired UW faculty). May 12, 2006 - The Court held a final settlement hearing and ruled that the Settlement Agreement was fair and reasonable. The 2% salary increase for all class members who are still employed by the University in one of the covered faculty titles will become effective June 1, 2006. The settlement fund will be allocated to qualified class members on a pro rata basis, less applicable tax and retirement deductions. To read the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order Approving Settlement Agreement, click here. The Settlement Agreement is below. Details regarding the settlement are found in these documents: April 26, 2006 - The Faculty Senate adopted this resolution in support of the settlement: “The class-action lawsuit initiated by Professor Duane Storti has been settled in a manner that restores the lost 2% increase and validates the Faculty Code;” and “the Faculty Senate commends Duane Storti, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, for having the courage and commitment to defend the Faculty Code and the 2% salary policy[.]” To read this Faculty Senate resolution, see below. March 16, 2006 - The University of Washington Board of Regents approved the settlement. October 25, 2005 - The Court granted Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment, ruling that the UW had a mandatory duty to provide the faculty a 2% minimum annual raise. A copy of the Order is here. April 14, 2005 - King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu certified the class in the faculty pay raise class action lawsuit brought by Associate Professor Duane Storti against the University of Washington. The lawsuit seeks to obtain overdue 2% merit pay raises on behalf of University faculty members who worked in the 2001-02 academic year and the 2002-03 academic year, and who were not found unmeritorious in their service in the 2001-02 academic year. The Court of Appeals denied review of the class certification order on September 30, 2005. The University’s contract with faculty members in the University Handbook required the University to provide a 2% merit-based raise at the beginning of the 2002-03 academic year. The University breached the contract by not paying the 2% raise in 2002-03. Questions can be directed to the attorneys representing the plaintiff class at uwfaculty@bs-s.com. To read the UW Faculty Senate Resolution endorsing class action settlement, click here. To read newspaper articles on this case, see: American Association of University Professors: Duane Storti Lawsuit: Victory Means 2% Back Pay - And Much More American Association of University Professors: Historic Victory in Duane Storti's Lawsuit Seattle Times: Settlement approved in UW's pay lawsuit 03/16/06 The UW Daily: Rare misstep could prove costly 01/12/06 Seattle Times: Judge scolds UW for e-mail on lawsuit 01/11/06 The UW Daily: UW e-mails about salary suit barred 01/11/06 Seattle Times: UW Profs Awarded Back Pay 10/26/05 Seattle Post-Intelligencer: UW Owes Back Pay to Profs, Suit Alleges 10/19/2004 |
