New talks to try to avert CSU strike
Press-Democrat 3/26/07
But both sides said they still will plan for possible rolling strikes as early as April if an agreement is not hammered out.
"The feeling is one of cautious optimism," said Andy Merrifield, president of Sonoma State University's chapter of the California Faculty Association. "But we are planning for the worst."
The extension until April 6 follows an agreement by both sides to follow guidelines laid out by an independent report recommending a nearly 25 percent pay raise for the 23,000 faculty members at the nation's largest four-year public university system.
While the two sides have disagreed on a number of issues, such as parking fees and maternity leave, an increase in salary has been the most contentious issue.
During negotiations, which began about two years ago, administrators offered an increase of about 22 percent, with a chance for more increases later.
The faculty association said its salaries lagged behind comparable universities and demanded a 25 percent pay increase.
While the independent investigation seemed to side with the faculty, administrators said they were willing to follow its guidelines to prevent a strike.
"I'm optimistic that we can do that," CSU Chancellor Charles Reed said. "Nobody wants a strike, especially with the focus on the importance of students and their education."
The independent study, known as a fact-finding report, is the result of a state law intended to help broker resolutions and prevent strikes.
Notably, the CSU representative for the study dissented from several findings, while union president John Travis gave it a more glowing endorsement.
"I accept this report and urge the parties to reach a settlement based on its recommendations," Travis wrote.
The CSU representative, Jackie McClain, wrote in her comments attached to the report that the recommended salary increase "goes beyond the fiscal priority" of the university.
"We have no idea whether the recommendations can be funded within the money available," McClain wrote.
Both sides remained mum on how negotiations would be carried out during the next 10 days. Reed asked for a period of calm and declined to give any specifics on when the two sides would meet.
Faculty members voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike last week.
The strikes would move from campus to campus to avoid disrupting the more than 400,000 CSU students. But a system-wide walkout remained an option, union leaders said.
"We're going to do what it takes to get a contract," Travis said.
Administrators have said CSU continues to plan for the strike in an effort to minimize disruptions to students.
"It's the biggest issue we are dealing with right now," said Susan Kashack, a spokeswoman for SSU. "It's a very difficult situation."