CSUB faculty to vote on authorizing strikes soon
Bakersfield Californian 2/22/07
The California Faculty Association's board of directors voted Tuesday on whether they wanted members -- about 24,000 statewide -- to vote to move forward with a strike.
If 50 percent plus one of the association's membership authorizes them, rolling two-day strikes could start in late March or early April, said John Travis, association president.
The Bakersfield faculty will vote March 5 through 8, said Larry Taylor, president of the campus chapter of the faculty association.
"I feel confident that the faculty will vote strongly for a strike," Taylor said. "I've never seen faculty as angry as they are now."
He understands why some professors will keep teaching and not participate in a strike.
A general strike may follow the rolling strikes, Travis said.
The faculty association and the California State University administration have been negotiating salary and other issues, but those talks broke down.
They are now in a fact-finding mode; that report will likely be available in March.
If the two sides don't accept the fact-finder's recommendations, the faculty's contract expires, which will lead to job action.
A university system spokeswoman said it's premature to discuss strikes until the fact-finder's report is issued.
"We believe that both parties should have the commitment to make this fact-finding process work," said Clara Potes-Fellow.
The association represents about 24,000 professors, librarians and counselors at 23 California State University campuses.