I say ask away. If your method of asking is striking, be prepared for the possibility that you might get fired, and that I won’t have much sympathy for you if you are, but still, ask away.

If you’re right and you’re underpaid, I hope you get the raise. Whether the “boss” (in this case the state gov) thinks they can replace you for the same wages will determine that.

The question is “if I fire this person who is striking, can I hire a replacement for the same price?” If you’re being paid the equilibrium value of your labor, the “boss” will likely answer the above question with “yes, I can get someone else to do this job for this pay, so you can get out.” If you’re being paid less than equilibrium, the “boss” will think “No, no one else will do it for that price either, therefore I can’t afford to fire people, therefore I have to give them raises.”