Faculty Association Authorizes Strike Vote For CSU
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – For the second time in four months, California State University faculty are being asked to vote on a possible statewide strike.
CSU faculty went on strike last November at Cal State East Bay and Cal State Dominguez Hills, shutting down the campuses for a day.
Now, the California Faculty Association has authorized a strike vote in mid-April that if approved, would affect every Cal State campus.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"We are not interested in a strike as a first resort," said Andy Merrifield, a political science professor at Sonoma State.
Merrifield said that, after 18 months at the bargaining table, they are trying to move the process forward. He said the sticking points are more about quality of education and faculty rights than just about salaries.
"We're not asking for huge salary increases. Our current demand would be a one percent cost of living increase annually for three years," he said.
The possible strike is described as a "rolling strike," where certain schools would be shut down for a few days and then move to other campuses. Pat Lopes Harris, spokesperson for San Jose State University, said that even though the vote has been approved, a strike is in no way imminent.
"Classes are in session and classes will remain in session for the near future, probably through the end of the term and into next term," she said.
Any strike would require the approval of a majority of faculty.
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