The faculty and the chancellor's office appear far apart in
their fight over an ever-shrinking piece of state budget pie.
California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz says her
colleagues are ready to authorize a strike in the event the
university imposes contract terms.
Taiz: "I am fully
confident. I travel around the campuses constantly. And
to say that people are angry is to be kind."
But Mike Uhlenkamp with Chancellor Charlie Reed's office says
the university's finances are stretched thin.
Uhlenkamp: "Some of the CFA
proposals would look to increase costs to the system - which are
extremely difficult given the budget circumstances that we're
facing right now."
After nearly two years of talks and a failed mediation effort,
the labor process now moves to a fact-finding stage ahead of a
potential showdown later this year.