9/10/1976, Burlington Free Press

UNION LEVELS CHARGE AT COLLEGE

PLAINFIELD -- The Vermont Federation of Teachers Thursday filed an unfair labor practices charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Goddard College.

Federation President John McShane said that the AFL-CIO affiliate, which represents the majority of faculty and staff at the college, took the action because the school has refused to bargain on economic issues.

"Talks have been proceeding for the past year, although very slowly," McShane said. "Now they are no longer proceeding and the college has refused to bargain on money matters."

Goddard officials expressed surprise upon learning of the complaint. College President Richard Graham said he thought the union was aware that the college was awaiting fall enrollment figures, which should be available today, before proceeding with negotiations.

"I thought they knew as well as we that the college could make no commitment until we knew where we stood," Graham said. "I'm very surprised. It must be some tactic, the significance of which we don't understand."

NRLB investigators must now determine if the VFT charges are justified and make recommendations to correct the situation. Failure to follow such recommendations could result in court action.