In a sea of white signs with red lettering, Tom Suchan’s red sign stood out. It’s been carried on a picket line before — in fact, Suchan keeps it in his Eastern Michigan University office, figuring it’s going to be used just about any time a faculty union contract expires.
On Wednesday morning, Suchan marched with his colleagues in front of Welch Hall, Eastern’s administration building. Up one side of the sidewalk they went, then curved around and went down the other side, over and over again, pausing only to add a new marcher in.
Suchan would normally spend his Wednesday morning split between his office, answering emails from students of his online classes or getting ready for and teaching his 9:30 a.m. Asian art history class. But once the faculty voted — 91% approved — to strike after new contract talks with the university stalled, Suchan grabbed his sign and marched, just like he had in past labor disputes. Eastern’s faculty has gone on strike in 2000, 2004 and 2006. The 2006 strike lasted for two weeks before the sides forged an agreement. In 2010, faculty came within hours of a strike vote before agreeing on a new contract.
The two sides are split on salary increases and especially on how much faculty members should pay for health care. Suchan, who has been at the school for 20 years, said the dispute won’t impact him much, but worries for his younger colleagues and their families.
The union, which represents about 500 faculty members, and administration were expected to gather for the next round of talks Wednesday morning. Administrators have said strikes by faculty are illegal under Michigan law. In 2011, Central Michigan University faculty were on strike for a day before a judge ordered them back to classrooms.
More:Emoni Bates makes homecoming official with Eastern Michigan basketball; ‘I love my city’
More:Controversial land deal critical to future of Marquette, NMU Foundation says
Early Wednesday morning, school spokesman Walter Kraft told the Free Press: “We’re evaluating all options. Our primary concern is supporting our students, and working to get faculty back in the classroom is the best way to do that.”
Faculty set up their picket line on Cross Street in front of the administration building and right next to a traffic light, where stopped cars had plenty of time to read signs. The constant sound of honking horns in support was the soundtrack to the morning. The picketers were settled in with supplies — a giant case of water, a slightly smaller case of Gatorade and multiple boxes of Dom’s donuts to keep energy levels up.
With union faculty members out on strike, classes were hit and miss. Administrators told students to show up for class and wait 15 minutes to see if their professor showed up.
Hunter Allen, a freshman from Howell, said his schedule was going to be a bit topsy-turvy. Several of his classes were introduction level classes and being taught by graduate assistants or part-time faculty, so he thought those would still meet. But his favorite class, an archeology course taught by a member of the faculty union, was canceled. That professor had been regularly updating students on the status of talks and strike, Allen said.
Allen brought his breakfast over by the strike line and sat on a rock a short distance away, watching the professors march. He said he was supportive of them.
“It must be pretty serious if they are willing to do this,” he said, adding he was hoping it got resolved quickly. “I’m still paying for those classes.”
Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
