California State University faculty members begin strike as students return to the classroom

MARINA, Calif. (KION): UPDATE ON JAN. 22, 2024 AT 6:43 PM- The California State Faculty Association began their five-day strike on Monday as students return to the classroom on Monday morning.

The picketing started around 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Faculty, students and local elected officials voiced concerns about the negotiations between California State University and union representatives.

"The first week of classes are used to prepare for the rest of the class," CSUMB student Kyle Lynn said. "There's not that much that we actually learned on the first day."

The California Faculty Association says the chancellor's office walked away from the bargaining table which forced the strike to begin.

The Chancellor's Office said in a press conference that while faculty are deserving of better wages, the university must keep in mind how much they have in the budget.

CSU faculty members prepare for strike as students move in at CSU-Monterey Bay

UPDATE ON JAN. 19 AT 4:45 PM : It was a busy day for students eager to move into their dorms at CSUMB.

As the semester begins next week, a looming faculty strike is leaving some worried and it has already impacted classes for some students.

"We got an email that said we won't have class for the first week because our professor won't be there." said Nora Utis, a study abroad student from Norway.

It's not how Utis said she wanted her semester to start but​ she said she supports the professors.

"It sucks to lose the first week since we only have 4 months here, but I do think it's a really important case that the professors get what they deserve." said Utis.

During a press conference, Cal State University administrative staff said there's some misconceptions about the money available to pay faculty.

"Unquestionably they deserve an increase. We are committed to compensating employees fairly but we are and must be equally committed to the long-term stability and success to the CSU, so increase must be fiscally prudent." said CSU Chancellor, Mildred Garcia.

They said using emergency reserves to help reach a deal with the union is not an option. They also went on and said CSU has a total of $2.5 billion dollars in reserves.

The CSU said of that amount, all but $766 million dollars is committed for specific necessary and critical campus obligations. The remaining reserve of $766 million that are not committed for specific critical obligations are needed to respond to and manage emergencies and incidents such as earthquakes or wildfires and to maintain safe operations on all the campuses.

"CSU currently has enough reserves to operate for only about 30 days," said Leora D. Freedman, CSU Vice Chancellor for Human Resources. "Reserves are one-time funds and they cannot be used for reoccurring obligations such as salaries."

Freedman goes on to say the CSU should really have 6 months worth of reserves available.

CSUMB professors said an increase in pay is important now more than ever.

"The majority of the in the CSU actually make on average around $60,000 a year." said Meghan O'Donnell, a professor at CSUMB.

Campuses in the CSU system will remain open, but the union said they will continue fighting for what they believe they deserve to continue working comfortably. CSU staff said their contract with the faculty union expires this summer, CSU and the union will soon be bargaining on a new contract.

CSU faculty members may strike after no agreement came after negotiations with the CSU system

California State University faculty members are planning to strike at the start of the spring semester.

The California Faculty Association are planning a week-long strike from January 22nd through January 26th across the 23 campuses at the start of the spring semester.

Meghan O’Donnell is a professor at Cal State Monterey Bay. She said the union have reached the end of the statutory process for negotiations.

"When you reach the end of that statutory process, the employer has the right to, impose their last offer on faculty, and faculty, in turn, have the right to strike," said O'Donnell.

According to CSU officials, they have given a 5 percent increase effective at the end of this month, but faculty members have been asking for 12 percent.

"We actually did a lot of important kind of analysis of inflation and how our pay has lagged for several years," O'Donnell said. "Um, and 12% is what we actually need for the raise to actually be a pay increase and not what we would see in real dollars as a pay cut."

O'Donnell said many faculty members sleep in their cars, rely on food banks, and can’t even afford for their children to attend a CSU.

In a statement from the California State University chancellor's office, they say quote:

“The CSU respects the rights of CFA to engage in strike activity and takes seriously any such planned union action. All CSU campuses will remain open to serve students. We have contingency plans in place to maintain university operations and minimize any disruptions to ensure the strike poses no hardship on our students."

The chancellor's office said that none of the CSU schools have not canceled classes but a student's class may be canceled because of faculty members deciding to strike.

O'Donnell said that the walkout will not impact students and will benefit them. The faculty union are opposing the 34% tuition increase over the next five years and are asking for more mental health resources.

"We don't want to harm students in any way, shape or form," O'Donnell said. "We are asking faculty to communicate with all of their students before this strike so that they know how to prepare."

O'Donnell said they are also pushing for an increase in parental leave from 6 weeks to a full semester, breastfeeding stations, and more gender-inclusive restrooms.