California State University Faculty Demand Fair Pay and Benefits SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Faculty members at California State University (CSU) are taking a stand and staging one-day strikes across four campuses to advocate for higher pay and improved parental leave policies. The California Faculty Association, representing approximately 29,000 professors, librarians, coaches, and other workers from the university system’s 23 campuses, is leading the charge. The union’s demands include a 12% salary raise, an extension of parental leave from six weeks to a full semester, manageable workloads for faculty, increased access to breastfeeding stations, and the provision of more gender-inclusive restrooms. These requests aim to ensure that the university system supports its employees and creates an environment that promotes work-life balance and inclusivity. The strikes began at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, also known as Cal Poly Pomona, where hundreds of faculty members picketed on Monday. Similar strikes are planned later in the week at San Francisco State University, California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Sacramento. The California State University chancellor’s office has expressed concern about the financial implications of the union’s demands. The proposed salary increase alone would cost the system $380 million in new recurring spending, exceeding the increased funding allocated by the state for the 2023-24 year. While the chancellor’s office acknowledges the need for fair compensation, it emphasizes the importance of fiscal sustainability. Despite these concerns, faculty members remain steadfast in their pursuit of fair pay and benefits. Their actions align with a broader wave of labor movements across various industries in California, where workers are demanding better pay and improved working conditions. The strikes also come at a time when new laws in the state grant workers more paid sick leave and increase wages for healthcare and fast food employees. In addition to the faculty union’s efforts, other workers within the California State University system, such as plumbers, electricians, and maintenance workers represented by the Teamsters Local 2010 union, have also engaged in strikes to advocate for fair pay. Student workers across the university system’s campuses have also become eligible to vote to form a union. The faculty strikes highlight the need for fair compensation and better working conditions at California State University. By joining together and taking collective action, faculty members aim to change the narrative and ensure that the university system lives up to its mission of providing quality education while supporting its dedicated workforce. (Tag: Labor Law) (Image: Faculty members holding signs during strike)