California State U Faculty Authorizes Possible Strike

The union representing professors at the California State University System have voted to authorize a strike if faculty and administrative leaders cannot reach agreement on a pay raise. The tactic is intended to increase pressure on Cal State administrators to take seriously the union's demands for a 5 percent across-the-board raise and a further boost for those on the lower end of the pay scale; the system is offering 2 percent, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Cal State union has voted to authorize strikes four times since 2007, but has actually gone to the picket lines only once, in 2011, according to the Times.