CSU, APC reaches tentative contract; CFA still quarreling

sBy Michelle L. Young and Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

Although the California State University and the California Faculty Association have not yet concluded their long-standing contract dispute, a compromise was tentatively reached between the CSU and the Academic Professionals of California union that represents nearly 2,000 student service professionals.

The tentative three-year contract, to be ratified Dec. 20, includes no renegotiating of the contract until it expires in June of 2003, said Ken Swisher of the Chancellor's Office.

With a 3 percent salary increase for all employees, the tentative agreement also includes use of 40 percent of the salary pool as merit pay to reward outstanding employee performance, said Swisher.

The California Faculty Association, one out of eight unions representing CSU employees, is still struggling to agree on a contract with the CSU. The current CFA contract will expire July 2001.

In its contract negotiations, the CFA is requesting a higher salary range for counselors, increased salaries for department chairmen and women and increased health benefits for lecturers.

CFA proposes to either end or adjust the merit pay program that provides additional compensation based on faculty performance.

"Merit pay is the main sticking point. It's not unique to the CSU. It's common in higher educational institutions across the country. It's a great way to reward outstanding faculty performance," said Swisher.

The CFA's president, Hamdi Bilici, said the association does not want to end all merit pay, only a particular form of merit pay called faculty merit increase. When dealing with that specific type of increase, Bilici said, "it ends up being discretionary pay rather than a merit pay."

A fact-finder has been called upon to help the CSU and the CFA reach an agreement.

"Recommendations from the fact-finder are expected any day and we hope that will help us reach an agreement," said Swisher.

The CFA and CSU, Swisher said, basically have "philosophical differences."