Faculty Union at Cal State Vows to Strike against Universitys Final Pay Offer

Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

California State University Faculty Union Plans Week-Long Strikes Over Pay Dispute
The faculty union of the California State University (CSU) system has announced a week-long strike across its 23 campuses starting from January 22 to January 26. The strike comes in response to CSU’s offer of a 5% raise to the faculty members, which falls far below the union’s demand of a 12% increase.

In addition to higher wages, the union is also seeking extended parental leave and higher minimum salaries for the lowest-paid workers. While other employee unions within the system accepted 5% raises last year, the faculty union is pushing forward with its planned strike.

The strike will receive support from the Teamsters 2010, a labor group representing 1,100 skilled maintenance workers. This follows the strikes that took place at four campuses in December as an escalation of the ongoing dispute between the faculty union and the university system.

The university’s decision to offer a smaller raise to faculty members comes ahead of Governor Gavin Newsom’s spending plan announcement, where he is expected to address the state’s budget deficit. The union argues that a 12% raise is necessary to account for inflation and rising costs of living.

Previously, the system had offered faculty members 15% raises over three years. However, the last two years of the offer were contingent on the state continuing to increase funding for CSU by 5% annually, which the union was not willing to accept. Cal State has been facing financial difficulties and has approved consecutive tuition hikes totaling 34% over the past five years, a move that the faculty union strongly opposed.

The breakdown in negotiations between the faculty union and Cal State leadership was marked by a lack of trust, resulting in the imposition of a final offer on the faculty by the university. As part of the ongoing dispute, average salaries for professors, full-time lecturers, and campus presidents within the CSU system have been provided, highlighting criticism from faculty groups over the higher salary increases given to top campus and system officials compared to lecturers.

The planned week of strikes is a significant moment in the ongoing battle between the faculty union and the university system. Both sides remain steadfast in their positions, leading to increasing tensions within the CSU community. As negotiations appear to have reached an impasse, the effects of the strike on students and the university system as a whole remain uncertain.