Cal State U. Faculty Labor Union Votes in Favor of Strike
LOS ANGELES – The California Faculty Association (CFA) members overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike if a labor agreement cannot be reached with the California State University (CSU) administration. The labor negotiating period under state law ends on March 26, 10 days after an independent mediator issued a report recommending how the dispute should be settled.
If the 10-day “quiet period” concludes with no agreement, which is the final attempt to reach a contract under labor law, the CSU faculty has the legal right to begin job actions. Of the 8,129 faculty members who voted, 94 percent voted in favor of a strike. The 81-percent voter turnout on the 23 CSU campuses exceeded the CFA’s expectations.
John Travis, President of the California Faculty Association, said, “Today, the faculty has spoken loud and clear – they are tired of the way in which they are being treated by the CSU Administration. And they want a return to a true focus on the mission of the university – the instruction of students.
“They are frustrated by millions of dollars wasted on pet projects and golden parachute deals for executives while our classrooms and student services are being cut. And finally, they are sick of being lied to and treated disrespectfully by an Administration that makes ‘take it or leave it’ offers and refuses to bargain fairly.
“We need to make real progress toward paying the CSU faculty at the same level as our peers around the country. We know this administration has the financial flexibility to make it happen, but they choose not to. If they don’t find the will to reorder their priorities, we don’t want to strike but we will.”
The vote authorizes CFA’s Board of Directors to set the dates and locations of the strike. CFA’s leaders have already indicated that the job actions will begin with “rolling strikes” in which campuses will strike at different times for two days each. The actions are likely to occur in April.
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CFA press release
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