The Central Michigan University Faculty Association organized a work stoppage on the first day of classes yesterday after they said the CMU administration was not bargaining with the union in good faith.
CMU officials filed in injunction and a judge ordered the faculty members back to work (state employees are not allowed to strike under state law).
The dispute is over cuts to salary and benefits.
Now, a fact finder has been assigned to help the parties resolve the dispute. From a CMU press release:
The Michigan Employment Relations Commission has appointed Barry Goldman to oversee the fact finding process involving the CMU Faculty Association and Central Michigan University. In addition, hearing dates of Sept. 7, 9 and 13 have been accepted by both parties. Fact finding is a process in which an impartial party is assigned to hear both the university’s and the FA’s positions and then render a recommendation on a collective bargaining agreement. Both the FA and CMU filed petitions for fact finding July 14.
CMU spokesman Steve Smith says Goldman will listen to both sides on the hearing dates and will later issue a recommendation.
