California State University Faculty Prepare to Strike In a series of one-day rolling strikes, thousands of faculty members from California State University (CSU) are planning to shut down their classes next week due to stalled labor negotiations. The strike will begin at Cal Poly Pomona on Monday, followed by San Francisco State, Cal State LA, and Sacramento State on subsequent days. While the largest disagreement between the CSU system and the California Faculty Association (CFA) is salary, faculty members are fighting for a 12% general salary increase for this year, with the size of future raises yet to be specified. The university system, on the other hand, is proposing a total increase of 15% over three years, including this year. One of the key concerns for faculty members is the immediate financial strain they face. Many of them have student loan debt and are struggling to support their families or start families of their own. Despite the CSU system expressing a commitment to increasing compensation, they argue that resources are limited and financial commitments must be fiscally sustainable. CSU officials claim that larger salary increases would lead to difficult decisions and reopen salary negotiations with other labor unions. The fact-finding report, released by a third-party labor negotiator, recommends a 7% general increase in faculty salaries for one year. However, the faculty association believes that this proposal is insufficient to address the loss in buying power. The report also highlights the differing views between the union and the university system regarding the ongoing financial situation. While the faculty union and some student groups argue that the university system can use its reserves to cover expenses like faculty salaries, CSU maintains that reserves are intended for one-time emergency purposes and cannot be allocated to salary increases. This series of one-day strikes serves as a disruption to draw attention to the plight of faculty members who are not paid a living wage. While some concerns have been raised about the impact on grading and graduation timelines, faculty members have reassured students that they have their backs. Students have been encouraged to speak with their faculty members about the impact on their courses and grades, and the chancellor’s office has attempted to address the strikes and their consequences in communications with students. As personal injury bloggers, we understand the importance of fair compensation and support for workers, including faculty members. We hope that a resolution can be reached soon that addresses the concerns of both parties and allows for a sustainable and equitable working environment within the CSU system.