strike vote

The Mercury News today reports that the California Faculty Union has scheduled a strike vote for mid-March. I'm a little surprised they have already scheduled the vote since fact-finding is not yet finished. The article mentions that this could be an historic strike, the largest strike of educators in US history. If so, it's a part of history I am very sorry to be a part of.

I'm beginning to better understand the difference between the CFA's position and the administration's position. The administration is saying that it is offering a 24% pay raise, while the CFA says it is in reality only 14%. The administration's numbers include merit pay increases (which not everyone would receive), funding for raises that were promised but not given over the last 4 years, and imaginary money that the State is not giving. If it really were a 24% increase, the union and all faculty members would support accepting the contract.