California faculty at largest US university system could strike after school officials halt talks

Faculty at California State University could stage a systemwide strike later this month after school officials ended contract negotiations with a unilateral offer of a 5% pay raise, far below what the union is demanding

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Faculty at California State University, the largest public university system in the U.S., could stage a systemwide strike later this month after school officials ended contract negotiations Tuesday with a unilateral offer of a 5% pay raise, far below what the union is demanding.

Professors, librarians, coaches and other members of the California Faculty Association staged a series of one-day walkouts across four campuses last month to demand higher pay, more manageable workloads and an increase in parental leave.

The union, which represents roughly 29,000 workers across Cal State's 23 campuses, is seeking a 12% pay raise. In offering just 5% effective Jan. 31, university officials said the union’s salary demands were not financially viable and would have resulted in layoffs and other cuts.

“With this action, we will ensure that well-deserved raises get to our faculty members as soon as possible,” Leora Freedman, vice chancellor for human resources, said 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 union's bargaining team reserved four days for talks this week, “making every effort to bargain in good faith and explore the space for a negotiated solution before a systemwide strike January 22 to 26," the CFA said.