California Faculty Association (CFA) members at California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State) continue to vote to give the board of CFA the authority to lead them into strike if the California State University (CSU) does not agree to the CFA proposal of a five percent general salary increase, in which they have proposed a two percent increase.
The 2014-2017 collective bargaining agreement between CFA and the CSU trustees call for reopener bargaining in years two and three of the contract regarding their salary.
“CFA’s proposal is simple, reasonable and gives our members something to fight for,” CFA Bargaining Chair Dr. Kevin Wehr wrote in the CFA Insiders’ Guide to Collective Bargaining. “A 5% General Salary Increase and a Service Salary Increase for those eligible would go a long way towards addressing stagnating faculty salaries.”
There are different steps by which the public higher education employees and employers reach a fair contract. The first step is public notice, in which the parties give notice to the people of California that CFA intends to bargain. The second step is bargaining, in which CFA and the Chancellor’s team have face-to-face negotiations. In this step, the two parties can reach an agreement. If the sides cannot reach an agreement, they reach the next step, which is impasse. Impasse happens if the sides do not come to an agreement.
Mediation is another step where the State Mediation and Conciliation Service gives a mediator to help the parties come to an agreement. If no agreement comes into place, fact-finding is the next step. Both sides make their case to a three-person panel that issues an advisory report, followed by a black out. The next step is concerted action, followed by unilateral imposition.
As of right now, the process finds itself in the fact-finding stage. The CFA members are voting to get ready if they do not receive their five percent increase.
“I want everybody to vote. It is very important for everybody to vote because whatever we are going to do, we need to know where they [faculty] stand so that we can represent them,” John Sarraillé, President of the CFA Chapter at Stan State, said.
Students at Stan State seemed to be on the blackout stage, unaware that this battle is happening. Elizabeth Padilla (senior, Art), Yulissa Tafolla (freshman, Undeclared) and Peter Gonzalez (senior, History) all were unaware of the “fight for five” between the CFA and the CSU, as well as the voting.
Once the CFA voting and the concept of Fight for Five was explained to them, Padilla and Tafolla both agreed with the CFA. On the other hand, Gonzales sided with the CSU.
“I think the CSU is right,” Gonzalez said. “If you put out a job and a hundred people show up, that shows me that there is more supply than demand.”
CFA members will continue to vote Wed, Oct. 28^th from 11am to 1pm at the Student for Quality Education mixer. CFA members also have the option of voting online at www.calfaq.org.