WITH VIDEO: Faculty picket unwelcome at CMU and You Day, plans job action again if necessary

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Laura Frey Interview from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Another job action from Central Michigan University’s Faculty Association could be on the horizon if the contract conflict continues.

FA President Laura Frey told Central Michigan Life in a recent video-interview there is potential the administration might be able to legally force a contract on the FA if bargaining remains fruitless after fact finder Barry Goldman gives his recommendation to both parties.

“My understanding is if there is no agreement … there is the potential that the administration could impose a contract on us, where they could take any one of their offers and essentially tell us, ‘that’s your contract,’” Frey said.

]If that happens, Frey said she guesses the FA will vote for another job action, their first since the work-stoppage on the first day of school.

The current contract issues are playing a role in the relationship between the faculty and the administration, she said.

“I would still say that I disagree with the response by the board of trustees and this administration in not returning to the bargaining table and bargaining in good faith with our FA bargaining team,” she said. “My understanding is that chairperson (Sarah) Opperman indicated that they were interested in a compromise in working on a contract with faculty, (but) compromise involves coming to the table.”

In the exclusive CM Life interview, Frey opened up about her time as FA president, which began on July 1. The FA contract expired on June 30.

Meanwhile, Saturday, FA members picked “CMU and You Day” just a day after meeting with CMU for the first time in several weeks.

The two sides sat with State Mediator Miles Cameron but the meeting failed to create any progress toward an agreement, according to Frey.

“Unfortunately, our FA bargaining team was met with the same administrative positions that would result in roll backs for faculty,” Frey said in a press release.

Some at the event, however, voiced their disapproval.

SGA President Vince Cavataio, a Shelby Township senior, called the protests “highly inappropriate.” He was concerned prospective students will see CMU as a hostile environment.

The FA should work to recruit students, not inadvertently discourage them from attending CMU, he said.

He was also concerned for campus ambassadors whose jobs are complicated when asked about the negotiation, and they are not sure how to answer.

“It puzzles me that the FA leadership continuously states they always have the students’ best interests in mind,” Cavataio said. “This interest has not been displayed, and this picketing is a prime example.”

Frey said the picketing was not detrimental to students coming or not coming to CMU. The FA’s attitude toward the visitors was one of welcome, she said.

“What we are doing is only informing incoming students that we are working without a contract,” Frey said. “Our message is positive.”

Alumna Margaret Seidl of Rochester Hills brought her son Jacob to the event and said didn’t enjoy the sight of professors picketing during the middle of a welcome day.

“I think there’s a time and a place and that it’s not right to drag people who are considering the school into the school problems,” Seidl said. “Even though they are trying to be friendly, it’s not a friendly thing.”

FA picketers said they intended to create awareness and pass out information regarding the contract conflict. They did not want to keep students from coming to CMU.

“That wasn’t our intention,” said Guy Newland, professor of Religion and Philosophy. “We weren’t there to bad-mouth the school.”

Grand Blanc freshman Samantha Pinter said she lost some trust in the group.

“I’ve supported the faculty, but I don’t think today is the day to be protesting,” she said. “I don’t think I would be as excited as I was last year if I saw faculty protesting.”

Harrison Township senior Jessica LePage said the demonstration made CMU look bad. Picketing in front of families trying to enjoy tailgating was in bad taste, she said, and might push people away.

“You need your money, I get it, but do it classy,” Lepage said.

The FA picketers were also present outside the Health Professions Building, Anspach courtyard, Charles V. Park Library and the Bovee University Center.

Not everyone disapproved of the demonstration. Gretta McNeal, of Novi, brought her daughter to the event and was not bothered by the demonstration. She said she was glad her daughter could see people practicing their first amendment rights.

“To me, that’s just part of the college life,” McNeal said. “You will always have a voice that wants the quality of life improved.”

Cavataio said he hopes prospective students can look past the day’s events and still recognize the benefits of attending CMU.

“I wish they could all fall in love with this campus as I did, without such a distraction,” he said.