California State University faculty authorize strike

By Katy Murphy

SAN JOSE -- The union representing California State University's 25,000 faculty members has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, union leaders announced today at San Jose State.

Ninety-four percent of the faculty voted to strike should the union and CSU system be unable to resolve the dispute, which revolves around faculty pay. The California Faculty Association rejected a 2 percent raise offered earlier this year and is demanding 5 percent increases for all of its members and an additional 1.2 percent for some faculty.

"We work hard to provide quality education for our students, but we also need to support our families," union president Jennifer Eagan said in a news release. "Education is a road to the middle class for our students, and teaching CSU students certainly should secure a middle class living for the faculty."

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