Strike Averted at CSU

Union leaders representing Cal State University faculty approved a tentative agreement Saturday for a three-year contract, all but ending the threat of a strike against the 22-campus system.

The agreement, following nearly a year of often-bitter negotiations, would provide systemwide pay raises of 2% in each of the first two years. It also contains a so-called reopener clause allowing for the California Faculty Assn. and CSU administrators to negotiate another increase in the final year of the contract.

Currently, the union pay scale for full-time faculty ranges from $41,940 for an assistant professor to $90,804 for a full professor. The union negotiates for 22,000 teachers, librarians and psychological counselors.

A breakthrough came last week when a neutral fact-finder delivered a report offering key compromises, ending a bargaining impasse. The state’s budget crunch, by limiting the amount of money available for salaries, also pushed the administration and union negotiators toward a settlement.

The deal must be approved by union members. Balloting is expected to take place on CSU campuses this month. The CSU board of trustees also will consider the proposed contract, but its vote will not come until mid-May.

Faculty have worked without a contract since July 1. The new contract would run through June 30, 2004.

Along with pay raises, the deal would provide various benefits sought by the union, including expanded health care coverage and greater job security for part-time instructors.

For its part, the CSU administration managed to limit the pay increases and maintained its right to award merit pay, a point of contention with the union. However, merit pay was put on hold until at least the third year of the contract.