CMU faculty on strike

Lisa Satayut | for the Daily NewsMore than 100 CMU students gathered in support of Faculty Association members Sunday night. Lisa Satayut | for the Daily NewsMore than 100 CMU students gathered in support of Faculty Association members Sunday night. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close CMU faculty on strike 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Central Michigan University tenured-track faculty did not show up for classes today, instead joining a picket line on campus to send a message to university administrators.

"The Faculty Association bargaining team has recommended a full work-stoppage for tenured track faculty at CMU. We will not be teaching classes," FA President Laura Frey said as she was greeted by more than 100 students who rallied outside the Mount Pleasant High School, where the FA meeting took place Sunday night.

"CMU administration has continued unfair labor practices," she said.

The strike does not impact all classes. Only classes taught by faculty who have reached tenure status are affected. Kenlea Pebbles, from the CMU Union of Teaching Faculty, said that union is "discouraging" members from taking on additional duties.

"As a union we have taken a position to encourage our members to not take on the additional coursework, if asked, or any additional duties," Pebbles said.

The UTF represents non-tenured faculty at CMU.

The students, with signs in hands, marched from campus to the high school to show their support for the faculty.

The rally was loud and could be heard from inside the building by some faculty.

"I'm way inside in the auditorium and I heard you guys come in," former FA president Tim Connors said to the group as he greeted them.

"You have no idea about the goose bumps that came to me to know that you are here to help and show your support for us," he said.

Although the FA meeting was still in progress, curious faculty members poked their heads out the front doors of the high school to get a glimpse of the chanting crowd.

The crowd continued to chant, sing and do anything else it could to show support. One student stepped from out of the crowd and began playing his harmonica for the rally-goers while others loudly jingled their car keys in unison.

The faculty members were treated like celebrities as they left the building. They were greated by loud screams as they exited the building in small groups.

We stand behind your right to a quality education, and a qualification for that is quality faculty," Frey said.

"By standing up for our rights, it's showing you that we are willing to take a risk, that we are showing you how to stand up for your rights and be role models for you to go into the future and share your voice when you believe you are being treated unjustly," she said.

While CMU administrators are calling the work stoppage "illegal" and have filed a court injunction to get faculty back to teaching, Frey said otherwise.

"We are on an association-approved legal job action full work stoppage," she said.

She said they will continue the work stoppage for as long as they need to.

CMU spokesman Steve Smith said the university is "disappointed" in the work stoppage and that students should report to classes. CMU has 439 fixed term faculty and 591 graduate assistants who are holding classes Monday.

"The impact of the FA's action places an unfair burden on students who want to graduate in a timely fashion, pursue graduate school or launch successful careers. CMU will request a court injunction Monday to get the faculty back in the classroom," Smith said in the statement released Sunday night.

The FA bargaining unit and CMU administration could not agree on economic issues including salary and health insurance. The two sides met with a mediator several times last week, but no settlement was reached. The previous contract expired June 30.

CMU political science senior Brad O'Donnell heard about the rally through the social networking site Facebook.

I hope the administration sees the light and the faculty get a fair contract. It seems like the administration is being unreasonable," he said.

CMU President George Ross planned to meet with media this morning to address the work-stoppage.