Minnesota State has agreed to pay up to $1.9 million to settle a wage dispute with faculty at its two-year colleges.
The Minnesota State College Faculty union has been fighting since 2010 over wage calculations for faculty who do certain jobs, such as teaching independent studies or coordinating internships.
The union prevailed at arbitration in 2016 but argued the public higher education system refused to comply with that ruling. The faculty sued Minnesota State in Ramsey County District Court in December 2017, alleging unfair labor practices.
Responding to that lawsuit, Minnesota State said it paid faculty in accordance with the arbitration ruling but maintained it was not required to change practices going forward. The settlement announced Wednesday brings an end to that lawsuit.
“The process took longer than we had hoped, but we’re happy with the result,” union president Kevin Lindstrom said in a news release.
As part of the agreement, Minnesota State promised to pay faculty going forward with a formula that includes both credits and contact hours.
Faculty members have until Oct. 31 to file claims. Minnesota State will pay a referee up to $50,000 to decide who qualifies.
The union says between 180 and 700 instructors are owed back pay. Payments were capped at $1.9 million.
Minnesota State that it’s “pleased” to have reached the agreement.