California State University faculty strike to demand 'gender-inclusive' restrooms, pay increases — reach tentative agreement

Unionized faculty at California State University, the largest university system in the nation, launched a strike on Monday, the first day of the semester.

According to a Thursday press release from the California Faculty Association, a union representing 29,000 CSU workers, the "systemwide strike" resulted from failed contract negotiations that have been ongoing since May. The union, which planned to stage a five-day walkout, claims that CSU management has responded to its requests with "disrespect and derision."

The unionized faculty requested a 12% pay raise that remains ahead of inflation, "manageable workloads," additional student counselors to provide mental health services, the expansion of "paid parental leave to a full semester," lactation and milk storage spaces, and "safe gender-inclusive restrooms and changing rooms." They also asked for "pay equity," including "raising the floor for our lowest-paid faculty."

Chris Cox, CFA vice president of racial and social justice, north, and San José State lecturer, stated Thursday that CSU management has only addressed the union's salary requests.

"They have completely ignored the issues of workload, health and safety concerns, and parental leave. Management wouldn't even consider our proposals for appropriate class sizes, proper lactation spaces for nursing parents, gender-inclusive bathroom spaces, and a clear delineation of our rights when interacting with campus authorities," Cox said.

CFA Pomona member and Cal Poly Pomona Counselor Maria Gisela Sanchez Cobo added that she is "fully hurt and disheartened" that CSU increased student tuition costs.

"It's very disturbing the incongruence of the narrative management presents – they have no funding, but they have enough for presidents' raises and more and more administrators," Sanchez Cobo noted.

Late Monday evening, the CFA announced that it had reached a tentative agreement with CSU management.

"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," the union wrote on X.

As a result of the tentative agreement, the union called off its five-day strike, instructing faculty to return to work Tuesday.

CFA President Charles Toombs stated Monday evening, "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. This Tentative Agreement makes major gains for all faculty at the CSU."

As part of the tentative arrangement, CSU management reportedly agreed to a 5% general salary increase, a salary step increase of 2.65% for 2024-2025, expanded paid parental leave from six to 10 weeks, and greater access to "gender-inclusive restrooms and lactation spaces." CSU management also agreed to "increas[e] protection for faculty who have dealings with police by providing for a union rep in those interactions."

"At the bargaining table, CSU management did not take our proposals seriously until CFA members were willing to withhold our labor. Our bargaining proposals offered solutions to desperately needed equity transformation for CSU students, faculty, and staff, including raising the base salary for our lowest paid, struggling faculty, manageable workloads that allow for more student engagement, more mental health services for students, limits to police power, and humane and adequate parental leave," the union stated.

In a Monday statement, CSU confirmed that it reached an agreement with the union.

"Students are advised to look for messages from their instructors regarding adjustments to their classes," the university stated. "Further details regarding the agreement will be provided in the coming days."

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