Just days after California Faculty Association members demonstrated their dissatisfaction over contractual issues and announced they would consider a strike as they marched through the campus – and through Sacramento Hall – President Alexander Gonzalez went on the defensive this morning and sent an e-mail to students telling them not to worry.

In the e-mail that was sent to students en masse via SacLink accounts, Gonzalez shared his concerns about the current contract negotiation among the California State University system, the California Faculty Association and third-party “experts.”

He also wanted “to take this opportunity to reassure you that we do not expect your progress toward graduation to be seriously impacted,” he said.

That statement likely was prompted by CFA’s stance that it would strike if the now 20-month long negotiations were not resolved. Gonzalez said the CSU has made a strong offer that the union refuses to accept.

“I am hopeful that the current process will succeed and the two sides will reach an understanding that leads to a new contract. In the meantime, our campus community will need to remain focused on maintaining open communication and strong mutual respect,” he said in the e-mail.

Gonzalez wrote that students shouldn’t be too alarmed by the notion of a possible strike for two reasons: the CSU has never gone on strike over contractual issues and the union is considering strikes that would be two-day, rolling strikes.

The union and the CSU is currently in impasse, in which experts try to reconcile the differences of the two parties to find common ground. This process could take months, Gonzalez said.

“It is important to note that any work action such as a strike could only take place if that process does not succeed,” Gonzalez said.

Charles Bagkus, a junior health science student, read the e-mail and said he supports the faculty.

“They are not just doing it for themselves — they are also against tuition hikes,” Bagkus said.

Bagkus said that he is not too concerned about the process.

Moises Aranda, a public policy graduate student, said that the e-mail was ambiguous.

“To be honest, he doesn’t present stone evidence of what’s happening,” Aranda said. “(Gonzalez) says there’s a problem, but I don’t see how he can solve the problem. There are more questions: what’s the problem, solution, how to solve it, what can I do, how will it affect me?”

Amanda Radford, an undeclared student, did not receive the e-mail but was aware of the on-going union issues. She said they should get paid more, and she sympathized with faculty.

“They are doing it for our life careers,” Radford said.

Carlos Eliason, a graphic design major, said he thought the e-mail was a way for Gonzalez to “cover himself,” and that the letter was not reassuring.

“I don’t think a strike will negatively affect me” adding that the professors probably would not completely abandon their students if a strike did occur, he said.

“I don’t think they are being respected, and the professors probably feel like they are being used,” Eliason said.

Gamaliel Ortiz can be reached at [email protected]