In an incredible demonstration of strength and solidarity, 389 members of the Eastern Michigan Faculty Union (EMU-AAUP) met today and reaffirmed their strong support of their strike. The faculty heard about the offers on the table from both sides, and they remain determined to stay on strike until a fair contract is achieved.

A comparison of the two offers can be found at:

http://www.emu-aaup.org/files/Comparison_of_Proposals.pdf

Also today, the students of Eastern Michigan University demonstrated their support for the faculty, as more than 1,200 students signed and delivered a petition to President Fallon and Regent Valvo that said the following:

“Whereas, students at EMU understand that the current strike of the professors is one ultimately based on the interest of making this institution one that can actually provide the quality education that students here pay for, expect and deserve.

Whereas, the demand of the professors for more job security and benefits for the purpose of retaining and attracting full-time quality faculty, and for safe and updated facilities are unequivocally in the interest of students.

Therefore, we the undersigned support professors and their demands fully in the strike for a quality contract, demand that the University President Fallon and Regent Valvo and administration meet the demands of the professors, and stop falsely portraying your actions in the “benefits” of EMU students.”

In legal news, the EMU administration rejected the EMU-AAUP’s offers for both binding arbitration and binding fact-finding. These actions had been proposed by the EMU-AAUP in order to encourage the EMU administration to come back to the bargaining table.

The EMU-AAUP went on strike on September 1^st. Classes started on September 6^th. The administration walked away from negotiations on September 5^th, after receiving a counter-offer from the EMU-AAUP,

Contact: Howard Bunsis, President, EMU-AAUP

734-487-1070 (office phone)

734-845-0706 (cell)

www.emu-aaup.org