Leaders of the California Faculty Association — the union representing 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors, and coaches across the 23-campus California State University system — said Monday evening they have accepted a tentative labor deal with the university system, ending eight months of tense negotiations and a planned five-day statewide strike.
CSU officials confirmed the tentative deal on Monday in a news release.
“I am extremely pleased and deeply appreciative that we have reached common ground with CFA that will end the strike immediately,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said in the release. “The agreement enables the CSU to fairly compensate its valued, world-class faculty while protecting the university system’s long-term financial sustainability.”
Nearly 30,000 faculty members and other employees launched their weeklong work stoppage across the CSU 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 collective action of so many lecturers, professors, counselors, librarians, and coaches over these last eight months forced CSU management to take our demands seriously,” CFA President Charles Toombs said in a Monday evening news release. “This tentative agreement makes major gains for all faculty at the CSU.”
The union’s chief concern had been securing a 12% general salary increase for its members across the board to keep up with inflation, along with raising the salary floor for CFA’s lowest-paid members.
Though the CFA did not secure 12% pay raises, they did secure a 5% general salary increase for all faculty members retroactive to July 1, according to a memo sent to union members on Monday evening.
CSU leadership had not put out a statement about the tentative agreement, which CFA members still need to approve in the coming weeks, by 9:30 p.m. on Monday night.
In case anyone forgot, STRIKES WORK! After months of negotiations, our movement for a #betterCSU has paid off! Our members have won a Tentative Agreement with @calstate that includes raising the floor for our most vulnerable faculty, safer workplaces & expanded parental leave.#1u pic.twitter.com/q9VXHO0P6p
— California Faculty Association (@CFA_United) January 23, 2024
In addition, all union faculty members will get another 5% general salary increase this coming July — contingent on whether or not California reduces its funding for the system in the coming budget cycle, the memo said.
The CFA was also successful in raising the salary for floor for its lowest-paid faculty members, which had been a sticking point in the negotiations.
Union members in salary ranges A and B will get a $3,000 increase in minimum pay retroactive to July 1, the memo said, with an additional $3,000 minimum pay increase for salary range A this July.
The CFA’s tentative contract — which, if approved, will be in effect through June 30, 2025 — also provides a 2.65% salary step increase from 2024-25.
The CSU will also increase paid parental leave from six to 10 weeks under the tentative deal, the memo said, and the system has agreed to improve access to gender inclusive restrooms and lactation areas on campuses.
“This historic agreement was won because of members’ solidarity, collective action, bravery, and love for each other and our students,” said Antonio Gallo, Associate Vice President of Lecturers, South. “This deal immensely improves working conditions for faculty and strengthens learning conditions for students.”
Union faculty members who participated in the first day of the strike, meanwhile, intended to return to work on Tuesday.
“With the agreement in place, I look forward to advancing our student-centered work — together — as the nation’s greatest driver of social mobility,” García said, “and the pipeline fueling California’s diverse and educated workforce.”
The CSU, meanwhile, advised students to check messages from their instructors for any changes or updates to class schedules.
