EMU cancels classes after 650 professors strike

YPSILANTI (AP) - Dozens of classes were canceled yesterday and students were left wondering when they could return as more than 650 full-time faculty at Eastern Michigan University went on strike.

Waving white cardboard signs with the slogan "Books Not Bricks," the unionized professors peacefully demonstrated at 12 strategic locations around the campus, passing out fliers and urging students to support the strike.

It was the first faculty strike since 1978.

"We're willing to hold out as long as we need to," said librarian Ann Andrew, who walked the line Tuesday morning after contract talks stalled shortly after midnight.

University officials said they were disappointed faculty broke off negotiations.

"We are committed to the collective bargaining process and are ready to return to the table and resolve these issues so that the university can return to normal," said Ronald Collins, vice president for academic affairs.

Key issues with the professors' union include replacement of full-time faculty members with part-time faculty, control over Internet courses and salary and benefit increases, American Association of University Professors spokesman Phil Arrington told The Ann Arbor News for an article published yesterday.

The university has said it doesn't plan to replace tenured and tenure-track faculty members. For hospitality management professor Denver Severt, the biggest concern was salary.

"I'm interested in the pay issue," said the five-year faculty member. "We're at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference right now, and if you factor in the cost of living, we're even worse."

Salaries for full professors at Eastern Michigan averaged $63,000 in 1998-99, according to the latest figures from the Mid-American Conference.

The average salary in the conference, which represents 12 comparable public universities in five states, was $68,000 for a full professor.

The university is offering a 6 percent salary increase for the first year of a new four-year contract, followed by 5 percent increases each of the following years.

The offer also raises life insurance maximums from $100,000 to $275,000 and increases long-term disability benefits, the university said.

"The university has committed an extraordinary amount of resources toward faculty salaries," Collins said. "The university has made a good faith effort and has extended its resources, but we cannot put any further burden on our students."

The roughly 40 percent of lecturers and part-time lecturers not covered by the contract were in class as scheduled yesterday, university spokesman Ward Mullens said. Lecturers also are negotiating with the university for better pay and benefits.

Of the university's 23,000 students whose fall semester began Aug. 30, many were left with a less-than-full class schedule.

"If it prolongs more than a week, I think I'd be a little upset," said senior Jaime Bottrell of Ann Arbor.

The early elementary education major said that despite having one of her three classes canceled, she was still supportive of the strike.

"I hope they get what they're asking for. I think they deserve it," she said. "It stinks that they have to cancel classes ... but I think it's for a good cause."

Freshman Justin Root who had one canceled class, said he sympathized with the union.

"It's disrupting that we all have to come to school and find out that classes are canceled," said the Redford native.

"But I support the teachers. Teaching's a hard job."

The contract, covering 687 tenured and tenure-track professors, expired Friday but was extended until midnight Monday, Arrington said.

Talks with a state mediator broke off shortly thereafter.

"We're ready to go back to the bargaining table as soon as the administration gives us something that's fair and equitable," Arrington said.

AP PHOTO

Eastern Michigan University art professor Marvin Anderson walks the picket line on the school's campus on Tuesday.