An unfair labor practice claim against Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) will move ahead after Administrative Law Judge Travis Calderwood denied the college's request to dismiss the case Monday.

Unionized employees represented by the Michigan Education Association contend NMC wrongfully withheld raises from faculty in January that were awarded to non-unionized employees. NMC officials defended the move, stating that wages and benefits are "mandatory subjects for bargaining in all union contract negotiations" and that the college couldn't implement compensation changes without an agreement in place. NMC also tried to argue Monday that the six-month statute of limitations for the MEA's complaint had expired before the group filed in April.

Calderwood denied NMC's attempt to dismiss the case, putting the case on course for an October hearing. NMC will have the opportunity to both argue statute of limitations issue and the merits of the unfair labor practice claim itself at that hearing, with the court dates yet to be scheduled.