Ferris State University professors came within an eyelash of going on strike a few week ago. According to the provisions of the new teacher strike law of 1994, they could be fined a day’s pay per professor; and $5,000 per day could be assessed upon their union for an illegal strike.

However, there is some balance in the law by assessing a fine of $5,000 per day upon the board of trustees, if they participated in a lockout. College professors are at the mercy of administrators and have about two decades behind in salaries and fringe benefits. Their union at Ferris State is the American Association of University Professors, a harmless group of idealists, who are clueless when it comes down to fighting in the trenches for their members.

In 1995 the AFL-CIO challenged the 1994 law in court, but they lost on the principle that the statue was not unconstitutionally vague. School boards may bring cases against teachers in the county circuit courts, if teachers dare to violate the law.

Without a doubt, the best solution for this legal entanglement is compulsory binding arbitration. Clearly it has worked well in resolving police and fire personnel disputes. Most college professors would choose binding arbitration rather than be forced by wild radicals to wave signs on the picket lines.

E-mail the author: Larry D. VanderMolenRetired political science professorMuskegon resident