With the proposed California State University system-wide strike a week away, the California Faculty Association and the CSU have agreed to enter a 48-hour media blackout period to allow negotiations to resume without interruption, effective immediately. During this blackout period, neither party will speak with the media or administer interviews, in addition to ceasing all communication and preparation concerning the strike.

During this time CFA leaders and CSU officials will work together to reach an agreement one last time before the strike.

This agreement came yesterday after CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White joined the discussions between CFA and CSU for the first time. White expressed his concern about the negative effects this strike would have, including the risk of injuring relations between faculty and the CSU.

CSU officials and CFA leaders plan to meet Friday, April 8 to hopefully announce a settlement between the two groups.

All 23 CSU campuses are scheduled to strike between Wednesday, April 13 and Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19. The CFA are striking to receive a 5 percent general salary increase for all faculty and a 2.65 percent service salary increase for the roughly 43 percent of faculty at the lower end of the salary structure.

“For now, CFA is asking the faculty to put strike preparations on hold to give both parties breathing room while we attempt to craft an agreement,” CFA President Jennifer Eagan said in an email. “I want to thank all of the faculty who have been engaging in preparations for their hard work, dedication, creativity, and bravery. Please take a much needed rest from these preparations for two days, and stay tuned for another update on Friday morning of this week.”