California State University faculty and staff went on strike Monday, bringing the nation's largest public university system to a standstill as students return for the spring semester.
University professors, counselors, librarians, instructors, coaches, and California Teachers Union members from the system's 23 campuses went on a five-day strike demanding higher wages and benefits. The union has 29,000 members from California State University.
“CSU management wants to maintain the status quo, and that is not working for the majority of faculty, students, and staff,” said union vice president Chris Cox. stated in a statement. “For the system to function properly for years to come, we need to improve working conditions for teachers and learning conditions for students.”
“This includes raising the salary floor for the lowest-paid faculty; general salary increases for all faculty; parental leave appropriate to our work assignments; and improving mental health on campus.” Adequate staffing of health counselors,” he added.
More than 450,000 students attend California State University, including the proud California Polytechnic Institute, and athletic powerhouses San Diego State University and San Jose State University. Classes were scheduled to begin on Monday at most California State University campuses.
The striking workers are demanding, among other things, a 12% wage increase, an increase in the minimum wage from $54,360 to $64,360, more college counselors for students and expanded parental leave.
Cox said the union claims the university system has not adequately responded to its demands, including “totally ignoring” requests for additional employee benefits.
“Administration has supported our recommendations, including appropriate class sizes, adequate lactation spaces for breastfeeding parents, gender-inclusive restroom spaces, and clear delineation of our rights in our interactions with campus authorities.” We don’t even consider it,” Cox continued.
At a press conference Friday, California Premier Mildred Garcia called on lawmakers not to go on strike.
“We have no interest in a strike. We are ready and willing to return to the bargaining table with the California Teachers Association,” she said. “But we have to work within economic realities.”
During contract negotiations earlier this month, the university agreed to a 5% raise, but the union deemed this insufficient. The university reached a collective bargaining agreement with the local Teamsters union over the weekend, and the union was also preparing for a strike.
The strike follows a similar graduate student strike in the University of California system in December 2022, which resulted in significant pay increases after a 40-day strike.
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