Nearly 30,000 faculty members and other employees launched their promised strike across the California State University system Monday morning Jan. 22 as pickets went up at campuses around the nation’s largest public university system. The union vowed that the walkout would last until Friday unless an agreement could be reached over pay and other concerns.
The California Faculty Association, the union representing 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors, and coaches across the 23-campus CSU system, vowed to stage the strike after deeming a 5% salary increase proposal from the CSU “not viable,” earlier this month. Other issues include workload, health and safety concerns, parental leave and class sizes.
The CFA said its strike would begin at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, with picket lines at all campuses. Southern California schools affected include Cal State Los Angeles, Long Beach, Northridge, Dominguez Hills, Channel Islands, Fullerton, San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona.
A CSU spokeswoman, Amy Bentley-Smith, said the university — the largest public system in the country — was prepared for the walkout, and was working to ensure the least possible disruptions for students. All campuses will be open and operational throughout the duration of the strike, officials said, but added that students will be notified if their classes are cancelled.
A similar strike was averted Friday when a deal was reached with Teamsters Local 2010, which represents skilled trade workers at 22 of the 23 CSU campuses. That deal must be ratified by the union membership and will be brought to the CSU Board of Trustees for approval at its March meeting. Skilled trades employees at the 23rd CSU school, Cal Maritime, are represented by a different union — IUOE International Union of Operating Engineers.
Meanwhile, the CFA and CSU leadership failed to reach an agreement to stave off Monday’s walkout.
“There are so many issues within the CSU system that need to…
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