(KMJ) – The union that represents California State University faculty said Monday it is preparing for a five-day strike at the system’s 23 campuses. That would be the largest walkout since professors and instructors won collective bargaining rights in the early 1980s.
The CSU chancellor’s office did not have immediate comment on the union’s plans. The administration previously has said the raises the union is seeking would cost $69 million that already has been pledged to increasing enrollment, hiring more faculty, and initiatives to improve graduation rates.
Union members currently are in the second-year of a three-year contract that included across-the-board pay raises of 1.6 percent and 3 percent raises for some coaches and part-time instructors for the 2014-15 school year.
The labor dispute is currently in the hands of an independent fact-finding panel that is scheduled to release its findings next month. If a resolution still can’t be reached, the faculty would be authorized to strike. And the California Faculty Association said it would do just that beginning April 13th.
Word of the potential walk-out prompted Fresno State to sent this message to all students, faculty and staff on Monday:
“Regarding California Faculty Association’s announcement today about potential strike dates in April, we respect the collective bargaining process and we know the California State University remains committed to reaching a solution. Our primary goal at Fresno State is to allow students to have access to classes and we are working to finalize a plan to ensure that they are able to complete their semester and graduate on time.”
