CSU faculty strike seems less likely
Times-Standard 3/26/07
The two groups have stalled in negotiating a new contract for almost two years. The 37-page fact-finding report is designed to provide third-party input to help them come to an agreement. Seattle-based labor arbitrator Sylvia Skratek wrote the report after hearing from representatives from the CSU and CFA.
Skratek's recommendation for faculty salary--a contentious point in past bargaining sessions--was an increase of roughly 25 percent by June 2010. The percentage includes a retroactive increase for the 2006-2007 school year.
Chris Haynes, a Humboldt State University geography professor and member of the CFA bargaining team, said the report backs up much of what the union asked for.
”This gives us a great report to take back to the bargaining table,” Haynes said. “We hope the CSU will embrace it.”
Neither side, however, said they agree with everything in the report. CSU Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Jackie McClain worked as a CSU panel member on the fact finding. In her opinion at the end of the report, she wrote that both parties are “well apart” on deciding salary issues.
CFA President and fact-finding panel member John Travis wrote in his closing opinion that he accepts the report, but wishes it suggested better leave conditions for faculty members with families.
If the two groups don't come to a contract agreement in the next 10 days, it is possible that CFA members will participate in two-day rolling strikes on all CSU campuses. In the last two weeks, more than 80 percent of faculty union members voted on whether to authorize a strike. Of those who voted, 94 percent were in favor.
At this point, both sides seem optimistic that they can agree on contract terms, and won't have to resort to a strike. Haynes said he is excited to put the recommendations in the report to use.
”We're all hoping to avoid a strike, and we're all optimistic,” he said.
CSU Board of Trustees Chair Roberta Achtenberg said that over the next 10 days, she will use the fact-finding report as a framework for contract negotiations.
”We are extremely optimisitic that an agreement both sides can live with will be reached,” Achtenberg said.
CSU Chancellor Charles Reed said he hopes both sides will stay “quiet” until April 6, avoiding any pickets or demonstrations. The focus, he said, should be on reaching a contract settlement.
”We will use the fact-finder report as a guide,” he said. “I think there is a place we could come to a consensus,” Reed said. He added that he didn't want to speculate about strikes, or what a settlement might look like.
”This is a very complicated set of recommendations,” Reed said. “The fact-finder tried to be fair to both sides and split the difference, to be honest.”