Temple Will Appeal Order On Professors' Back Pay

"But we do not agree with the remedy - to pay the union about 60 percent of their salaries. And we don't agree with the assertion that we committed an unfair labor practice."

The faculty union estimates the amount of back pay due under the ruling to be 66 percent of the professors' salaries for the time they were on strike. The administration puts the figure at 60 percent. Under the order, Temple estimates it would have to pay out about $2 million.

The university's appeal must be filed before Wednesday. The case would then be heard by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, which can affirm, overturn or modify the findings, Freeman said.

The faculty union has said it may also appeal the hearing examiner's decision.

Freeman said negotiators for the administration and the union agreed on a tentative contract settlement last fall that would have compensated professors for about 33 percent of the salaries lost during the strike. The union membership rejected the offer and the issue was decided by the state hearing officer.