97% of State Center faculty vote to authorize strike if negotiations fail

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After nearly two years of negotiations between the State Center Federation of Teachers and the State Center Community College District, hundreds of faculty members voted to authorize a strike... if necessary.

"It's time to reassert our value and time to take back that dignity," said AFT Local 1533 President Keith Ford.

Keith Ford says this is the first time in the union's 60-year history that faculty have turned out in large numbers for a strike authorization vote.

The results were announced Thursday, with more than 97 percent voting yes.

"It's great to see 1,000 of your colleagues come out and support in solidarity; it's wonderful, and we have never had a vote of this kind of significance," said Ford.

Ford says the district has presented contract proposals, but none include issues the union considers priorities, including salary, pay disparities between full-time and part-time faculty, among other concerns.

"Control over our workplace, and that means we need to own our intellectual property and have a bigger say on how dual enrollment is handled."

He says faculty have remained on the job because of their passion for teaching.

Meanwhile, the district released a statement acknowledging the vote:

"The District is aware of the vote taken by the union during ongoing negotiations. Votes of this nature are not unusual during bargaining and do not have any formal effect on District operations or leadership. We respect employees' right to express their views and remain committed to bargaining in good faith."

The next mediation session is scheduled for Sept. 2.

Ford says what happens next will depend heavily on those discussions.

"I hope that we can settle instead of strike because I really would like to go back to teaching my classes," he said.

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