CSU Faculty Demand Fair Contract, Set Potential Strike Dates

The faculty members on the campuses of the California State University system give their all each and every day to teach and mentor California’s future job force. All they ask in return is a fair wage and decent benefits.

For nearly two years, the California State University chancellor and executives have failed to respect faculty throughout the contract negotiations process, leaving many faculty members to fall out of the middle class or even earn a living wage as cost of living increases across California.

California Faculty Association (CFA) announced today that its Board of Directors has set dates of a potential strike on all 23 campuses of the California State University system. The five-day strike will occur April 13-15 and April 18-19 unless the required statutory process yields an agreement.

If a strike takes place, all faculty work on behalf of the university will halt.

CFA President Dr. Jennifer Eagan, Professor of Philosophy and Public Affairs & Administration at Cal State East Bay:

We’ve said all along that we don’t want to strike, but we will if we have to. We must take a stand so that we can support our families, protect our profession, and provide high quality education for our students. A strike is our last resort and we still hope that the Chancellor will invest in the faculty who are the major determinant of our students’ success.

The California labor movement supports the faculty’s demand for a fair contract. It’s time CSU management gets back to the negotiating table and offers faculty a decent contract that includes a 5% general salary increases after years of wage stagnation. In a state with a proud tradition of valuing education and serving as a world-leader in innovation, we owe it to our students and our future to ensure that faculty members are treated fairly and with dignity. Anything less is unacceptable.