It’s always good to reach an agreement without having to resort to extreme measures - especially those that would leave both parties dissatisfied. The Graduate Employees Union made tyhe right decision in choosing not to have a one-day strike Monday. And the university made the right decision by not giving it cause to.

Although union sources said 89 percent of members voted in favor of authorizing a strike, union and university officials signed an agreement Wednesday to set April 22 as a target date to complete negotiations.

The organization, which formed last April and represents 1,400 graduate student employees, has been negotiating for its first contract with the administration since October.

It’s good to know both sides are starting to work together in good faith to create a solution that will be pleasing for all involved. Although the conflict has been going on for a while, it looks like things might begin to move forward from here.

MSU President M. Peter McPherson said he was satisfied with the union and administration’s actions throughout the negotiating period, and is confident negotiations will be settled.

The fact that concrete dates have been set to finalize negotiations is a huge step. Now both parties should work together to make sure the target date sticks.

As long as contract talks remain fair between the union and the administration, the negotiating period should run smoothly. It’s always good to know the graduate union could have chosen to strike, but opted not to.

A one-day strike by the University of Michigan’s graduate union last month was followed days later by the ratification of a contract agreement. MSU’s union voted to endorse a strike soon afterward in case contract negotiations weren’t moving at the union’s desired pace.

The fact MSU’s union seems able to come to terms with the issue without striking should serve as a model for other disagreements between the student body and the administration.

Hopefully, on April 22 negotiations will be complete and the union and university will be able to begin turning decisions into action.

So long as the union and administration continue to make good moves, all parties should be pleased with the negotiated outcome.