California Faculty Association is hard at work to send a message to the CSU system: that its 23,000 members throughout the state don’t want to strike – but are prepared to do so.

The union, which has more than 1,000 members at Sacramento State, has been encouraging faculty members to sign commitment cards pledging that they would support a union decision to strike.

The union would need the support of at least 70 percent of its members at Sac State in order for its faculty members to participate in a strike, California Faculty Association officials said at a meeting today that followed President Alexander Gonzalez’s spring address.

Dozens of faculty members crowded into the Lobby Suite of the University Union, directly across from the Ballroom where Gonzalez just finished encouraging staff, faculty and students that “with communication and working together, we are going to be able to resolve our differences and those issues (such as faculty pay) and move forward.”

Many of the faculty members donned black T-shirts for the day’s event that read “I don’t want to strike, but I will,” a slogan that was also present on fliers and stickers worn by faculty members and students alike.

As the meeting began, it was clear that they did not share Gonzalez’s optimism.

“Are you angry?” California Faculty Association’s Sac State Chapter President Cecil Canton shouted as the crowded room roared in response.

California Faculty Association Vice President Lillian Taiz addressed those present at the meeting, explaining what else must happen before the union may strike.

The negotiations between the union and the chancellor’s office, which have lasted 20 months so far, have reached the final stage required by the rules of the bargaining process, known as fact-finding.

It follows the failed mediation session that ended on Dec. 15. In this process, “a neutral” fact-finder along with one person from each of the union and CSU’s bargaining teams will examine arguments and evidence from each side and issue a report, according to the union’s website, calfac.org.

The non-binding report will suggest areas in which both sides may be able to compromise to find agreement.

If the two parties are still unable to come to an agreement, the chancellor’s office may forcibly impose its “last best offer,” which would be an attempt to force a contract upon the California Faculty Association. The union would also be legally allowed to strike at this time.

A union strike would come in the form of systemwide, rolling strikes for two days at a time, Canton said.

This would mean that one campus would strike for two days, then reopen as another campus strikes.

Students at each campus would only miss two days of class at a time, so the affect on a student’s ability to graduate on time or pass required classes would be minimal, Canton said.

Dressed in all black as part of a protest of Gonzalez’s speech, Canton stressed that the focus should be on the larger picture.

“This is much bigger than faculty not getting a raise,” he said. “If we continue to stand for this we will lose this institution. There won’t be any students here because there won’t be any faculty here.”

Cody Kitaura can be reached at [email protected].