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GUEST: Teresa Montano, Professor of Chicano/Chicana Studies at Cal State Northridge, Vice President of CSUN’s CFA (California Faculty Association) chapter, and on the Board of Directors of CFA

California State University faculty have been bracing for a strike which could be the largest in US history. Last Sunday, a strike was temporarily staved off, when faculty and administrators reached an agreement to extend contract negotiations for ten more days. Administrators say that the framework for continued talks would be the findings of an impartial report by an independent fact-finder. The report, which was publicly released last Sunday, calls for an incremental salary increase for CSU faculty totaling roughly 25% by the year 2010. Cal State University faculty earn on average 18% less than their peers at similar institutions while CSU executives have enjoyed a 23% pay increase over the last two years. Also agreed upon was a “quiet period,” during the renewed negotiations in which union members would halt activist actions against Chancellor Charles B. Reed at his appearances. If negotiations fail in ten days, the California Faculty Association plans to strike.

For more information, visit www.calfac.org.