UPDATE: 300 attend Faculty Association demonstration preceding mediation
The seven members of the Faculty Association's bargaining team were greeted with the applause of 300 supporters this morning outside Ronan Hall.
The supporters gathered to support the FA bargaining team in front of Ronan Hall before its third session with a state-appointed mediator and the university bargaining team.
The faculty contract expired June 30. It is currently negotiating for the FA's next three-year contract.
Before entering Ronan Hall to begin negotiations, Philip Squattrito, a member of the FA bargaining team and chemistry professor, spoke to the crowd.
"We are looking for something that is fair to our members and mindful to the needs of students and parents," Squattrito said. "We need to attract and retain faculty members, and we are seeking a competitive package comparable to others (like CMU)."
Squattrito told the crowd the administration has been "reluctant" to move toward a competitive package, and asked the demonstrators to become more involved in what the FA is working on.
"CMU can absolutely afford (a competitive package)," Squattrito said.
Laura Frey, president of the FA and assistant professor of counseling and special education, said she was pleased with the turnout.
She said the demonstration sets the example that the university is important to the local economy. She also said that CMU's financial situation needs to be separately considered from the state's and the country's.
"Financial audits show how financially solid and flourishing CMU is," Frey said. "CMU as an institution can help the local economy by paying all of its employees, not just the FA, fair and equitable wages."
David Whale, his wife Diane and daughter Chelsea were all in attendance at the demonstration. Whale is a faculty member in the educational leadership department and his daughter Chelsea is a Mount Pleasant senior.
"We came as a family unit," Whale said. "Whatever is decided will have an impact on our family no matter what happens ... I want to see the students treated fairly, especially my daughter."
He said he is asking for an equitable contract, but his idea of an equitable contract may vary from other FA members.
"I want to make sure (the contract's) fair to everyone -- students, faculty and the university," Whale said.
On Tuesday, the FA said they would accept a pay freeze on the condition students saw a tuition freeze. Undergraduate tuition was increased by 3.47 percent.
