Formal mediation between the California Faculty Association and the California State University system on the topic of salary increases for CSU faculty has officially failed.
On Thursday, the two parties met in Sacramento to make one last attempt at closing the gap between the CFA’s 5 percent salary increase request and the standing CSU offer of a 2 percent increase.
CSU released a statement late Thursday stating, “No resolution was reached at the conclusion of today’s session and the state mediator has certified both parties for fact-finding, with dates to be determined.”
In the labor negotiation process, fact-finding follows mediation and invites an uninvolved third party to verify the statistical information being offered by both parties in support of their proposals.
If the fact-finding were to show the parties to be equal in their factual standing, the negotiation process would move on to the last, best, and final offer before closing negotiations for the duration of the contract year.
CFA has stated their intent to hold a vote, lasting from October 19-28, to certify concerted action and potential striking to further their “Fight for Five” campaign, and there have been no indications that the vote will experience any obstruction in the wake of mediation.
Commitment votes have been solicited from CFA members over the last few weeks, and a hypothetical strike would be slated to occur no earlier than spring semester of 2016.
The CSU Board of Trustees will next discuss the budget in closed session on November 17 in the downtown Long Beach offices.