Strike Canceled and Classes Resume Tuesday, January 23
The California State University (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 adjustments to their classes.
Student FAQ
The California Faculty Association (CFA), which represents instructional faculty, coaches, librarians and psychological counselors, and Teamsters Local 2010, represented plumbers, electricians and other skilled trades workers, have called for a five-day strike from Monday, January 22, to Friday, January 26, on every CSU campus in which they are encouraging their membership to withhold work – including canceling classes, not answering emails, and not attending other job functions such as committee work or research -- and join picket lines.
The CSU has not canceled classes, but individual classes may be canceled by faculty members who choose to honor the strike. In addition, mental health counselors who decide to strike may cancel appointments. However, you should not assume that all your classes, athletic practices or events, or counseling services will be canceled, as not all faculty will strike.
You should stay in touch with each of your professors, coaches or counselors. You may also check your class portal and university email for notifications of any changes to your classes.
You can share any concerns about canceled classes, mental health counseling appointments, athletics practices or events and other student services via a link that will be sent to you via email and posted to Canvas. Through that link you may provide details about the class or service that was canceled.
If a professor has not communicated with you that they have canceled class due to the strike, you should attend the class as normal. If you have not heard from your professor, you may follow up with Dr. Kevin Grisham, Interim AVP of Faculty Affairs & Development at kgrisham@csusb.edu / 909-537-5522 or the Dean of Students Office at dos@csusb.edu / 909-537-5185.
Additionally, if your class is not held, you can also share any concerns about the cancellation via a link that will be sent to you via email and posted to Canvas. Through that link you may provide details about the class or other service that was canceled.
A strike should not affect your ability to complete your courses and earn full academic credit.
Yes, campus will be open and operational (e.g., library, food court, student union, advising offices and resource centers). Should there be any changes to hours and services or scheduled events, that information will be communicated via the campus website, Canvas, email or social media accounts.
Picketing at campuses entrances may cause traffic delays. Plan extra time to get to campus, especially if you have class or other appointments.
Individuals who are picketing may not block or otherwise obstruct the ability of students to access the campus, including classrooms, other facilities and buildings, or campus services. If you are not comfortable crossing a picket line, you should access campus via an alternative entrance, or contact Dr. Kevin Grisham, Interim AVP of Faculty Affairs & Development at kgrisham@csusb.edu / 909-537-5522 or the Dean of Students Office at dos@csusb.edu / 909-537-5185.
We strongly encourage you to reach out to your professors and regularly check your student portal and email for messages from them. Any course may be affected regardless of the mode of instruction.
You should check with your professor regarding your work schedule on faculty-led research or projects.
If you are participating in off-campus activities such as student teaching, internships or service learning, you should continue to report to the sponsoring off-campus agency to continue your assignment as usual.
Faculty should never try to persuade you to support or oppose the strike. Nor can faculty require you to support the strike, walk the picket lines, stay away from campus or walk out of a class as part of a class assignment or in exchange for a grade.
The strike does not involve student employees. However, strike activity may impact service hours. You should check with your manager about any scheduling changes.
Missing classes that have been canceled due to strike action will not be considered non-engagement. We will work with international students to minimize any impact.
The university fully respects the free speech rights of our students, staff, and faculty. Retaliation from any member of the campus community for one’s opinion or position regarding the labor dispute is inappropriate and unlawful and should be reported immediately to the Dr. Kevin Grisham, Interim AVP of Faculty Affairs & Development at kgrisham@csusb.edu / 909-537-5522 or the Dean of Students Office at dos@csusb.edu / 909-537-5185.
We will continue to provide updates via Concerted Activities website, so check periodically. We will also communicate directly with students, faculty, and staff as needed via email and social media accounts.
General FAQ
After months of negotiations, the California State University system has been unable to reach separate bargaining agreements on compensation and other issues with the California Faculty Association (CFA), representing professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches. As part of the collective bargaining process, employee unions have the option to strike should there be no agreement after the conclusion of impasse proceedings.
Although negotiations with CFA were not successful, the CSU is providing CFA-represented employees with a 5% general salary increase effective the start of the February 2024 pay period, which concluded bargaining on the re-opener of the existing contract. CSU and CFA will begin negotiating their full contract later this semester.
CFA have called for a week-long strike from Monday, January 22, to Friday, January 26, on every CSU campus in which they are encouraging their membership to withhold work – including canceling classes, not answering emails, and not attending other job functions such as committee work or research -- and join picket lines.
Yes, campus will be open and operational (e.g., library, food court, student union, advising offices and resource centers). Should there be any changes to hours and services or scheduled events, that information will be communicated via the campus website, email or social media accounts.
Picketing at campuses entrances may cause traffic delays. Please plan extra time to get to campus.
Individuals who are picketing may not block or otherwise obstruct the ability of students or anyone else to access the campus, including classrooms, other facilities and buildings, or campus services.
If you are not comfortable crossing a picket line, you should access campus via an alternative entrance, or contact Dr. Kevin Grisham, Interim AVP of Faculty Affairs & Development at kgrisham@csusb.edu / 909-537-5522 or the Dean of Students Office at dos@csusb.edu / 909-537-5185.
No. A represented employee is not obligated to strike. The decision is yours to make. Unions are legally prohibited from threatening or coercing members.
Many of our other unions have recently reached agreements with the CSU and have collective bargaining agreements in effect that prohibit them from engaging in sympathy strikes. Non-striking employees may join the picket lines during non-work time.
The university fully respects the free speech rights of our students, staff, and faculty. Retaliation from any member of the campus community for one’s personal position regarding the labor dispute is inappropriate and unlawful and should be reported to the campus Title IX coordinator. Contact information can be found on the systemwide Title IX webpage.
For information on what offers are currently being negotiated, visit the CSU Labor and Employee Relations webpage.
Negotiations with CSU unions are done at the system level. This month, the CSU provided all faculty with a 5% general salary increase at the start of the February 2024 pay period. The CSU will begin negotiating a successor contract with CFA later this semester and remains committed to bargaining in good faith and reaching an agreement with CFA as it did with six other CSU unions this fall.
On Friday, January 19, 2024, the CSU reached a tentative agreement with Teamsters Local 2010, representing 1,100 skilled trades employees across 22 of CSU’s 23 campuses. As a result of that agreement, Teamsters called off their strike, which was to coincide with CFA’s strike.
The university will continue to provide updates via Concerted Activities website, email and social media accounts.