Central Michigan University Faculty May Strike

Central Michigan University students are preparing to go back to school, but school may not begin as planned.  Earlier tonight, the faculty union at Central Michigan University voted to give its leaders the authority to call a strike.

The possible strike could begin at any time.  Classes are set to begin on Monday, August 22.

Freep.com gives us more details:

The faculty union voted this evening to approve "any and all job actions necessary to cause the administration in good faith," the union said in a press release. Ninety-seven percent of the faculty who attended a standing-room only meeting in a Mount Pleasant hotel's conference center approved the move.

The union bargaining team will meet Tuesday, union President Laura Frey said. They have extended an offer to the administration to join them to resume talks. If that doesn't happen, the odds of a work stoppage "are high."

The vote by the faculty came hours after administrators sent a mass e-mail out to students urging them to report for classes as scheduled.

You have to feel terrible for the students who are caught in the middle.

Let's hope that both sides reach an agreement very soon and every student has the opportunity to get the education that they are ready to work for.