CSU, Faculty Strike Ends after One-Day with Tentative Agreement
TL/DR –
The California State University faculty union has reached a tentative agreement with the university, halting a planned five-day strike after one day. The agreement includes a 5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023, higher minimum salaries, safer workplaces, and an expansion of parental leave. The faculty union had initially demanded an across-the-board 12% wage increase for the 2023-24 academic year and raised the minimum salary for full-time faculty from $54,360 to $64,360, amongst other demands.
CSU Strike Ends After One Day as Faculty Union Reaches Agreement
The union representing California State University (CSU) faculty announced a tentative agreement with the university system, ending a planned five-day strike after just one day. The union shared on Instagram that their movement for a #betterCSU has borne fruit after months of negotiations and two strike actions.
The agreement, which is pending ratification from union members, includes higher salary floors for the lowest-paid employees, safer workplaces, and extended parental leave. Union leaders confirmed a 5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023. CSU Chancellor Mildred García expressed deep appreciation for the agreement, which ensures fair compensation for faculty while preserving CSU’s fiscal sustainability.
The surprise announcement came following a large walkout staged by faculty across all 23 CSU campuses. As faculty members marched, students scrambled with mixed instructions about class status and assignments. The university clarified that classes were not canceled, and individual faculty members who chose to strike would cancel their own classes. A message stated that unless students were informed otherwise by their instructors, they should assume classes were being held as scheduled.
The strike was a culmination of rising tension between the California Faculty Association, representing 29,000 employees, and CSU administration. It follows recent walkouts in higher education and TK-12 school districts with demands for better salaries amidst escalating living costs. Last year’s walkouts by University of California academic workers and LAUSD staff resulted in significant improvements in wages and working conditions.
Details of the Agreement
The faculty union initially pushed for a 12% wage increase, a minimum salary of $64,360 for full-time faculty, smaller class sizes, and gender-inclusive restrooms. The tentative agreement includes a contingency 5% increase on July 1, a $3,000 raise in minimum salary, increased paid parental leave from six to 10 weeks, and improvements to gender-inclusive facilities.
Antonio Gallo, an associate vice president of lecturers, praised the agreement, stating that it vastly improves working conditions for faculty and enhances learning conditions for students.
Strike Impact on Campuses
With many faculty members on strike, CSU campuses were mostly empty. Students who had not received cancellation notices from their instructors assumed classes were being held. Karen Carrillo, president of the Associated Students Inc. at Fresno State University, supported the move, stating it served as an example of fighting for what one believes is right. At Sacramento State, students were reluctant to report canceled classes, supporting the faculty they knew and cared about.
The strike also saw support from students, with Stevie Ruiz, a professor at Cal State Northridge, stating that what happens to the faculty affects students, reflecting a sense of mutual care and concern.
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