Local briefs

Monday, Nov. 03, 2008

CSU academic student workers consider strike

The union representing about 260 Fresno State students who teach classes, assist professors and tutor other students announced Monday it might go on strike.

UAW Local 4123 in Sacramento represents more than 6,000 academic student employees -- including the 260 in Fresno -- throughout the California State University system.

The strike would be called at all 23 CSU campuses, said Scott Bailey Clifthorne, a union representative.

The union -- which includes graduate and undergraduate students -- wants CSU to waive for its members the fees charged to attend the university. At Fresno State, undergraduates taking more than six units a semester pay $3,687 a year and graduate students taking more than six units pay $4,395 a year, according to CSU figures.

The union wants the fee waiver because CSU fees went up this year, increasing expenses for academic student employees, who earn on average $11.95 an hour, Bailey Clifthorne said.

The fee waiver would cost CSU $8 million to $11 million each school year, and given the state's worsening budget situation, granting the waiver "doesn't seem possible," said spokeswoman Clara Potes-Fellow.

The two sides have been bargaining since May and are scheduled to meet again Friday. Bailey Clifthorne said it is "very unlikely" that a strike would be called before then.

Fresno State officials were not immediately available to comment.

Women's prison to give $70,500 to help victims

The Central California Women's Facility prison in Chowchilla will distribute more than $70,500 to local victim organizations Friday, prison spokesman Mike Allen said.

The money will go to the Community Action Partnership of Madera County, James Roland Crime Victim Assistance Center and the Merced County District Attorney Victim/Witness Assistance.

Dinuba Unified wants coats to give to kids

Dinuba's annual Coats for Kids drive will continue through Dec. 5.

The Dinuba Unified School District will collect new and used coats to distribute to needy students.

Coats can be dropped off at any Dinuba school or at the district office. C&S Laundry will clean the coats before they are distributed.

More information is available: Margaret Arroyo at (559) 595-7200, ext. 216.

Mice seen in courthouse

The downtown Fresno County Superior Court criminal building has had a recent spree of mouse sightings, said Tim Wilson, the court's facilities director.

Wilson said the courthouse -- along with many other downtown buildings -- has had mice problems off and on for years. He said the county is working to eliminate mice in the courts building.