Strike dates were announced Monday for professors at Cal Poly and throughout the California State University (CSU) system, should the current contract process fail to meet current salary demands.
The California Faculty Association (CFA) said Monday a strike will take place in mid-April unless an across-the-board five percent increase and an additional step increase are approved.
Members voted overwhelmingly late last year to authorize a strike, should negotiations fail.
CFA San Luis Obispo Chapter President Graham Archer said Monday that Cal Poly's administrative bloat coupled with an attempt last year to appease faculty with a smaller-than-expected raise has tempers flaring locally.
"I think our faculty are far more angry than I've ever seen them before and probably as angry as any other faculty in the CSU," said Archer. "That's a rarity for Cal Poly, traditionally we've been a very quiet campus."
The negotiation process is nearly at the end of a fact-finding period, with a report due in mid-to-late March, followed by a ten day black out period.
Archer said, from a faculty standpoint, a best-case scenario would be if the two sides are able to come together to agree on a salary raise during the black out period. He said a worst-case scenario would be if the one week strike is not affective, forcing further action in the fall.
Cal Poly Spokesman Matt Lazier said in a statement issued Monday that student success is the primary focus and the "university's main concern" as the administration prepares for the possible strike.
"The university has developed contingency plans to minimize any disruption a faculty strike could have on students and the day-to-day operations of campus," said Lazier. "In addition, administration is planning activities for students aimed at supporting student success during a potential strike, such as career days and professional development workshops."
Announced CFA strike dates:
- Wednesday, April 13 through Friday, April 15, 2016
- Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19, 2016