HONOLULU -- University of Hawaii students are worried about the possibility of a walkout by professors as the union delivered a strike notice to the state Monday.

We have pretty much come to the conclusion that zero and two will not make it. - Maui Community College Professor Lynn Yankowski

The chief negotiator for the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, J.N. Musto, marched into the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to file the paperwork at 3 p.m. The stike notice says UH faculty members will strike on or after April 5 if negotiations remain at an impasse.

Musto said this is something he didn't want to do.

"We're disappointed. We thought that we were going to reach an agreement without having to again file notice of intent to strike and it's quite disheartening, quite frankly. Nobody in UHPA is anxious to call a strike," Musto said.

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly Union maintains that raises are long overdue for faculty who bring millions of research dollars into the state's economy.

"The faculty brought in $300 million last year and the projections are that this year it will reach $400 million," Musto said.

Musto said the only issue to resolve is salary. He said faculty members will take a strike vote on March 30 and 31.

A new organization called Students First, is a partnership of other student groups representing over 200,000 students. They feel that since they're the ones most affected by the education system. They said they should have a greater say in how it's run.

UH professors went out on strike three years ago for two weeks and students remember that. Now, UH faculty members have reportedly voted 92 percent to turn down the university's salary offer.

"We have pretty much come to the conclusion that zero (percent increase in the first year) and two (percent increase in the second year) will not make it," said Lynn Yankowski professor at Maui Community College.

Students worry that another strike will disrupt their education and may even delay graduation.

"So the last time, a lot of students were concerned because it came up to that critical time that school was just going to be cancelled for the rest of the year and the rest of us would have to retake our classes," student Kris Kaupalolo said.

Still there is support for the professors.

"It is important, if we do organize in support of them. We've been bringing in teachers from elsewhere and I think it's really important that we send a message that we believe in our teachers. If we can't reinvest in our teachers then it gives us the idea that we're not smart enough to even teach our own children and I think that's the wrong message," student Suzanne Aguiar said.

The filing of a 10-day strike notice Monday is a formality and negotiations will continue. However, strike or no strike these students plan to be active.

The organizers of Students First said they're going to get busy lobbying the Legislature on education issues and also try to get more student involvement in Gov. Linda Lingle's education reform.