Faculty Share Why They Vote "YES" to Authorize a Strike

In just three days since voting began, thousands of CFA members have filled out their Strike Authorization ballot, letting Chancellor Mildred García know that we are ready to go on strike to ensure we get the contract we deserve. 

If you are a CFA member and have not yet voted, click here to do so. 

We’ve collected some members’ testimonies on why they voted “YES,” and they’re likely going to share similar reasons as to why you would vote “YES” as well! 

Ryder Dschida | Cal Poly Humboldt History Lecturer Faculty

“I am a historian by profession, and I specialize in teaching U.S. and Latin American history and History Education. As such, I understand the historical significance of the labor movement and unionism in general. Everything we as working people enjoy today in our lives: weekends, vacation time, health insurance, pensions, child care, and an eight-hour workday… all of these things were hard-fought and won by past generations of labor activists and unions. How can I, as a working-class lecturer in the largest public university system in the United States, vote against my own interests? I want a fair contract, I want job security, and most of all, I want my students to feel that they are getting the best education possible. Supporting our union is the best way to secure a better future for ourselves, our loved ones, and our students. This is why I am voting ‘YES’ to authorize a strike.” 

Rose Lacy | San Francisco State Chemistry and Biochemistry Lecturer Faculty 

“I voted YES to authorize the strike to show the chancellor that academic workers are the foundation of the university, and that without us, the university collapses. Union power is the power of the collective, the power to withhold labor, the power to shut it all down when we are injured.” 

Brett Judson | Sacramento State Music Lecturer Faculty 

“I voted for strike authorization because CSU management needs to understand that faculty deserve to have our demands taken seriously, especially after years of enrollment growth and tuition increases. When faculty stand together and work toward a common goal, we win! We need to show management that we are united, that we have the numbers, and that we aren’t going to back down. At some point, CSU needs to rethink its priorities. Maybe that means hiring fewer administrators or putting an end to management raises and instead investing in the faculty who do the real work of educating our students.” 

Devon Berkheiser | San Diego State University Counselor 

Voting “yes” is important to me because faculty deserve job stability and a fair living wage. A university is nothing without its faculty, and continuing to de-value the work of faculty erodes our entire system.   

Dylan McClure | Cal Poly Humboldt Social Work Lecturer Faculty 

“This contract matters to me personally. I’m a lecturer, and I live with a chronic health condition. My health benefits help me manage it so I can keep teaching. I don’t want the Chancellor’s Office to open the door to taking those benefits away. 

“I’m grateful for what our union siblings won in the last contract. Lecturers have better pay today because they fought to raise the salary floor for those of us in Ranges A and B. This round, I’m proud to fight alongside you to address salary inversion and compression, which leave long-time faculty earning close to, or less than, newer hires.” 

Renee Penalver | CSU Monterey Bay, Psychology Professor 

“I voted YES because I care deeply about my colleagues, my students, my work, and the future of the university we serve. We deserve fair compensation, respect, and working conditions that reflect the value of our contributions. This is about more than a paycheck. It is about dignity, academic freedom, and protecting our livelihoods. 

I do not want to strike, but I believe in the power of standing together when our voices are not being heard. Our dedication should never be taken for granted. We deserve meaningful action, not just promises, and a fair contract that reflects our worth.” 

Omar Zahzah | San Francisco State Race & Resistance Studies Professor 

“I voted YES because, in voting to give themselves lavish raises and undemocratically pursue million-dollar corporate deals with Open AI as faculty and students struggle, management has made their utter disregard for shared governance, faculty working conditions, and student learning conditions abundantly clear. It’s time for us to come together and show management our collective power to win the more just contract we all deserve!” 

Barbara Olave | Stanislaus State Sociology Lecturer Faculty 

“Management’s healthcare proposal is sickening!” 

Rhiannon Aarons | CSU Long Beach Art Lecturer Faculty 

“Voting YES on the Strike Authorization is important to me because I believe lecturer faculty should be able to afford to live in the communities they serve. All CSU faculty deserve a cost-of-living increase, because the wage gap between CSU executives and CSU employees is huge.” 

John Caravello | CSU Channel Islands Philosophy Lecturer Faculty 

“I’m voting yes for the strike because withholding labor is our best point of leverage after we have exhausted all other options. And make no mistake, we are, in fact, exhausted. The CSU has more funding than ever. Administrator salaries have skyrocketed. Contracts have been cut for millions with AI tech giants without input from student or workers. Surveillance is at an all time high, both in and out of the classroom, with policies encroaching on our academic freedom and cameras encroaching on our civil liberties. And yet, student tuition is rising, faculty salaries are relatively stagnant, and we take on more and more responsibilities to make up for the continued corporatization of the university.” 

Christina Barbieri | CSU Fullerton American Studies Lecturer Faculty 

“I voted yes because I’m a 14-year temporary lecturer with a full-time teaching load and I make less than 10% of the chancellor’s base salary. I want a fair wage and job security.” 

Jaimy Magdalena | San Francisco State Race & Resistance Studies Lecturer Faculty 

“Of course I’ll vote “Yes,” because if the situation has gotten to this point, then clearly there’s a problem: No one wants to strike. This is what I would say to anyone who doesn’t really know anything about the CSU or CFA. However, as the SFSU Lecturer Faculty representative and faculty in the Race and Resistance Studies Department, knowing the sordid years-long bargaining horrors, I say “YES” to the strike authorization, “YES” to striking. Our next generations can be proud of our continuous journey towards equity, towards dignity and self-respect, and for all of us living under fascist ever-increasing authoritarianism.” 

Adán Ávalos | Fresno State Media, Communications and Journalism Professor 

“I voted yes because I believe management should center students, support faculty, advance social justice, and promote equity throughout our university.” 

Angie Tran | CSU Monterey Bay Social Sciences and Global Studies Professor

“I vote yes now as I did back in 2016 and 2023, because I love and care for the working conditions of all members of our strong union. Strength is in the numbers and it continuously demonstrates that in our union’s growing collective power over the years. In solidarity.”