CSU FACULTY TO STRIKE THIS MONTH; CONTRACT TALKS STALL

Tens of thousands of California State University faculty plan to go on strike for five days later this month at San Diego State University, CSU San Marcos and all other campuses after their union and management failed to agree on salary increases.

The union's strike is scheduled for Jan. 22-26 on all 23 CSU campuses.

The university system had announced on Tuesday that it would provide a 5 percent salary increase to all professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches, effective Jan. 31. It said the 5 percent raise is consistent with what it has negotiated with five other unions.

But the California Faculty Association wants a 12 percent raise for its 29,000 members. CSU management said it can't afford that, and that such an increase would require “massive cuts to campuses,” including layoffs.

“With this action, we will ensure that well-deserved raises get to our faculty members as soon as possible,” said Leora Freedman, CSU's vice chancellor for human resources, in a statement. “We have been in the bargaining process for eight months and the CFA has shown no movement, leaving us no other option.”

The 5 percent raise will cost CSU about $130 million this school year, compared with the $312 million it would have cost for a 12 percent raise, university officials said in an email.

In total, with the 5 percent raises negotiated with the other unions, all the raises will cost the system $261 million this year.

CSU said it will also allow for “modest” parking fee increases and increase department chairperson pay.

Meanwhile, the union accused CSU's bargaining team of bad-faith bargaining and said it forced its final pay increase offer on members, “threatened layoffs” and refused to bargain further, canceling remaining negotiations scheduled for this week.

“Rather than bargain in good faith with CFA members, CSU management expressed nothing but disdain for faculty,” California Faculty Association President Charles Toombs said in a statement.

In addition to bigger pay raises, the union said it wants smaller class sizes, more student mental health services, limits on campus police powers, expanded paid parental leave and more.

CSU management said it will not keep bargaining on the contract opener unless the union changes its salary demand.

It said it would begin successor bargaining on the full contract.

“The CSU respects the rights of CFA to engage in strike activity and takes seriously any such planned union action,” spokesperson Amy BentleySmith said in an email. “All campuses would remain open during a strike and have contingency plans in place to maintain university operations.”