The CMU Faculty Association President says the members will not agree to a one-sided deal
MT. PLEASANT (AP) -- Central Michigan University Faculty Association members say no deal, no class.
That could mean professors picketing this Monday when the new fall semester is set to begin.
Negotiations between the union and CMU resumed today for the first time since July 14th, but with the clock ticking, students and parents are wondering what's next.
Central Michigan’s campus was quiet Tuesday, but some students have made their way back to Mt. Pleasant anticipating classes will begin Monday. The Faculty Association says they're closer to a deal, but as of right now, they won't be in the classroom.
"I’d like to teach next week, but I want students at CMU to have a faculty that are respected, but when administration doesn't respect faculty, they don't respect students," said Laura Frey, a professor and the President of the CMU Faculty Association.
Faculty Association members were showing their unity Tuesday by wearing yellow shirts, the day after a union meeting in which 97 percent of the members agreed to give their bargaining team the right to call a job action if an agreement isn't reached.
“It's this comprehensive package that is a take it or leave it, this is the entire package, and it's all rollbacks," said Frey.
The university says the issues are economic.
They're presenting a reduction in health care, increase in reappointment timelines, decrease in salary, limiting retirement, and increasing faculty job duties.
University Spokesperson Steve Smith says CMU took a $12-million cut in state funding this year, which is a part of what led to the cuts.
Smith says contract talks returning to the table is a positive sign.
“We think it demonstrates their willingness to be in class on Monday when our semester resumes, and we fully intend to move toward the fall semester come Monday," said Smith.
But students say they're the real victims of the looming strike.
"Well if they're going to delay school for two weeks, how is that going to affect us paying for classes, that's two weeks of classes that I’m not going to be educated in," said CMU student Matthew White.
"I work all summer just so I can raise the money so I can come here and go to school, and then if I come here, and I don't get that education, then it's a waste of my money," said CMU student Aleasha Bergman.
The CMU Faculty Association insists they want to be in the classroom on Monday when classes do begin, but they're sticking to their guns, and they say if this is a one-way deal, the contract will not be signed.
The Faculty Association is also raising the questions of the University increasing tuition on students and the faculty not seeing any of that money.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(AP) Faculty members at Central Michigan University have authorized their union leaders to call a job action that could include a strike over the failure to reach a labor contract with the Mount Pleasant school.
Members of the Central Michigan Faculty Association voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a job action at a meeting Monday.
Following more than three months of good-faith negotiations with the Faculty Association, numerous matters remain unresolved – most significantly a FA compensation and benefit proposal of approximately $10 million.
Despite the move toward a possible strike, the university issued a statement Monday night saying it's encouraged. Central Michigan says that's because for the first time since the two sides sought fact-finding, union bargainers are formally requesting resumed negotiations.
The sides last bargained July 14. The professors have been without a contract since June 30.
Officials say all CMU students, faculty and staff should report as scheduled this week for the new school year.
“We are looking forward to another exciting and rewarding year at CMU,” said Dr. Ross, CMU President. “We are pleased to report that all of our plans for this week and the start of classes are on schedule. Regarding the negotiations with the CMU Faculty Association, we maintain our strong desire to move expeditiously toward resolving our differences in a timely manner that is fair and equitable to all parties.”
The semester starts Aug. 22, and the university says it expects classes to begin as scheduled.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
