Faculty members at Hartnell College, a two-year institution in Salinas, Calif., went on strike today after more than two years of salary negotiations between the instructors and the administration broke down late Thursday night.
The college’s president, Edward J. Valeau, said in a statement that the institution, which serves about 10,000 students, will remain open today and that students were expected to attend classes.
The college had offered instructors 3-percent raises for both 2004-5 and 2005-6 and a 5-percent raise for this academic year, according to The Monterey County Herald. Faculty members had asked for 4.6-percent raises for the past two academic years and a 7.19-percent raise for this year. They have been working without a contract for two years.
A majority of the college’s Board of Trustees supports Mr. Valeau, according to the Herald.
