Editor’s Note: This story has been modified from a previous version due to inaccurate information.

As faculty and staff at seven universities across the California State University system began to vote on a strike authorization on Monday – the first of its kind for the California Faculty Association – faculty here informed students about ongoing contract negotiations and possible effects of a strike in a town hall meeting.

A possible date for a strike is still unknown, said Alice Sunshine, media spokeswoman for the CFA. The Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, San Francisco, San Jose and San Luis Obispo campuses began voting this week.

Cecil Canton, criminal justice professor and Sac State CFA chapter president, said he is concerned students are going to have to continue to suffer for the problems in the CSU system, and that is one of the reasons instructors are preparing and willing to strike.

“If fees continue to increase, then students will have to work more and be less prepared for class,” Canton said at the March 6 town hall meeting. “It is all about giving people an opportunity to receive an education.”

Canton said all students are encouraged to come and stand with teachers on the picket lines.

But the strike date – if faculty decides to take such a measure – will not happen no earlier than 10 days after the fact-finding process ends, Sunshine said.

Although it is indefinite, Sunshine said the draft of the fact-finding report could be out as early as this week.

The fact-finding process, which has ended, includes a three-person panel, one representing the union, one from the CSU and a neutral participant to help the parties reach a resolution.

Sylvia Skratek, a labor management and public policy expert, is the neutral third party representative who is coordinating the fact-finding with CFA President John Travis and Jackie McClain, the CSU’s vice chancellor for Human Resources. The group met Thursday.

The main issue rests in what faculty wants: across-the-board pay increases.

“Last week, we saw faculty members come out the polls feeling more united than ever, and that is a direct result of the disrespect shown us by the CSU Administration,” said CFA President John Travis, in a press release.

The League of Women Voters will tally the votes cast throughout the state, Canton said. The result will be available on Wednesday.

The CFA needs a simple majority to pass the authorization to strike. However, an authorization does not necessarily mean the union will strike.

The union – representing about 23,000 instructors, librarians, counselors and coaches – and the CSU have been trying to nail down a new contract for about two years.

“If there is no resolution reached, then the CFA would decide on a strike date, and that would be at the beginning of April,” Sunshine said.

“Of course, that is if the strike does happen.”

Communications Professor Val Smith said the vote to strike was premature.

“We are going to hurt our reputation by saying that we are going to strike, ” Smith said.

However, Smith said, “If we need to strike, then we will strike. But if the money is not there, then we should not strike. It is just that simple.”

Canton said all students should go to their boss and ask for a 10 percent raise each year until 2010, since fees are going to increase every year until 2010.

Canton said students who have school two days a week will lose one day of school if a strike ensues.

“The chancellor’s office does not want to deal with angry students, and you students should be angry because faculty are leaving and that is going to affect your education,” Canton said.

Associate philosophy professor Christina Bellon believes that the action of standing up to the CSU is an example to the students.

“Many of us teach our students how important it is to stand up for what one believes is right and fair and just,” she said, “and we point to the historical figures who have done so.”

Philip Malan can be reached at [email protected]