CSU faculty strike called off following tentative wage agreement

Ted Torres January 23, 2024

California – The California Faculty Association (CFA) announced on Monday that a planned weeklong strike by faculty members of the California State University (CSU) system has been called off. This decision came as the two sides reached a tentative agreement, averting what could have been a significant disruption to the state’s higher education system.

Details of the Tentative Agreement

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, faculty members are set to receive notable benefits and improvements in their employment conditions. Highlights of the agreement include:

A 5% general salary increase for all faculty, effective retroactively from July 1, 2023.
Another 5% general salary increase on July 1, 2024, which is contingent on the state maintaining its base funding for the CSU system.
An increase in the salary floor for the lowest-paid faculty members.
A Salary Step Increase of 2.65% for the academic year 2024-2025.
An extension of paid parental leave from six weeks to 10 weeks.
The provision of a union representative for any faculty member having interactions with the police.
Improvements to access gender-inclusive restrooms and lactation spaces.
Support for lecturer engagement in service work.
An extension of the current contract period from 2022-2024 to June 30, 2025.

The CFA stated that this tentative agreement signifies a positive step forward for faculty members, ensuring they receive fair compensation and support for their essential roles within the CSU system. Faculty are expected to return to work on Tuesday, with the CFA planning to put the agreement to a ratification vote among its members in the coming weeks.

The CSU system also acknowledged the agreement and the cancellation of the strike on social media, instructing students to look out for further communication from their course instructors regarding the continuation of classes. A statement on the CSU’s website said more details about the agreement would be shared soon, marking the end of a potentially disruptive period for California’s largest public university system.

The CSU is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the California Faculty Association (CFA), ending their systemwide strike after one day. Students are advised to look for messages from their instructors regarding their classes: https://t.co/G1uipvo2ZJ pic.twitter.com/fVxD0BCSYd

— The CSU (@calstate) January 23, 2024