California State University Faculty Strike Resolved with Tentative Agreement”
California State University faculty have concluded their strike, which lasted only a day, as a tentative deal was reached with the university system. Over 30,000 professors, librarians, plumbers, electricians, and other workers across the system’s 23 campuses participated in the strike, initiated two weeks after CSU officials terminated contract negotiations.
California State University
The California Faculty Association (CFA) had sought a 12% pay increase, while the CSU had initially offered a 5% pay raise effective January 31. The strike proved effective in bringing both parties to the negotiating table, leading to a tentative agreement.
Key points of the CSU-CFA deal include:
5% General Salary Increase for all faculty retroactive to July 1, 2023.
5% General Salary Increase for all faculty on July 1, 2024, contingent on the state not reducing base funding to the CSU.
Raising the salary floor for the lowest-paid faculty in Ranges A and B: $3,000 increase in the minimum pay for Ranges A and B retroactive to July 1, 2023, with an additional $3,000 increase in the minimum pay for Range A on July 1, 2024.
Salary Step Increase (SSI) of 2.65% for 2024-25.
Increasing paid parental leave from six to 10 weeks.
Enhancing protection for faculty dealing with police by providing a union representative in those interactions.
Improving access to gender-inclusive restrooms and lactation spaces, with a pathway to address access issues.
Providing support for lecturer engagement in service work.
Extending the current contract for 2022-24 by one year to June 30, 2025.
The conclusion of the strike was seen as historic by the faculty, with the university system expressing satisfaction over reaching common ground with the CFA. The agreement ensures fair compensation for faculty while preserving the long-term financial sustainability of the university system. Faculty members are expected to resume work on Tuesday, marking the end of the strike that aimed to address concerns related to pay, workloads, and parental leave.
