HSU faculty strike vote begins today

Times-Standard 3/5/07

Starting today, the California State University faculty, including at Humboldt State University, will begin four days of voting to determine whether they want to go on strike when the labor negotiating period under state law ends this month.

Members of the faculty association say that a walkout by the CSU would be the largest walkout of university faculty in the history of the United States.

Colleen Mullery, associate vice president for faculty affairs at HSU, said earlier that, “In the event of any concerted activity or job action, Humboldt State University remains committed to providing its students with the highest quality educational experience.” Mullery said, “As a public institution, the university is obligated to continue to provide student instruction and student services during any concerted activity or job action initiated by the faculty. Students who live in dormitories will continue to have all usual services provided. We remain hopeful that the current bargaining impasse will be resolved prior to any concerted activity vote that may be conducted on our campus.”

The faculty has spent the last 22 months negotiating for a labor agreement with the CSU administration without an agreement.

Members of the faculty association say that, according to the California Postsecondary Education Commission, the CSU faculty is paid 18 percent less than comparable institution salaries around the country.

Faculty association representatives say that since 2002, faculty salaries have remained stagnant while the administration has raised its own salary 23 percent.