Note from the editor: At approximately 9 p.m. on Monday night, the CFA chapter at CSUMB posted on its Instagram that the CFA and CSU had reached a tentative agreement, and the strike was canceled.
Monday morning marked the first day of a scheduled week-long strike organized by the California Faculty Association (CFA). The strike follows seven months of negotiation between the CFA and the California State University system, which failed to reach an agreement on the CFA’s demands including a salary increase, smaller class sizes and increased parental leave.
The strike included demonstrations by faculty and staff at all 23 CSU campuses across the state. With the CFA representing 29,000 workers, it is reportedly the largest university faculty strike in United States history.
Despite rainy conditions, around 100 faculty members gathered around the California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus calling for their demands to be met. These demands include
- 12% pay raises that keep ahead of inflation.
- Pay equity and raising the floor for our lowest-paid faculty.
- Manageable workloads that allow for more support and engagement with students.
- More counselors to improve students’ much-needed access to mental health counseling.
- Expanding paid parental leave.
- Accessible lactation and milk storage spaces for lactating faculty.
- Safe gender-inclusive restrooms and changing rooms.
- Safety provisions for faculty interacting with university police on our campuses.
In addition to striking faculty members, many joined in solidarity, including the student organization Students for Quality Education, public officials and community members.
Holding picket signs and chanting in unison, demonstrators voiced their frustration with the CSU’s failure to meet their demands with slogans such as “Professors Over Profits!” and “Nothing Beats a Living Wage.” Drums, cowbells, bullhorns, whistles, harmonicas, and megaphones created a ruckus on the otherwise quiet campus.
At 11 a.m. four groups of demonstrators began to march, merging groups along the way as they walked along Inter-Garrison Road.
The march culminated at the corner of Divarty Street and General Jim Moore Boulevard, where guests such as Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, Monterey Bay Central Labor Council President Daniel Dodge, and retired state Senator Bill Monning addressed the crowd.
“You’ve laid the groundwork and you’ve built a huge statewide movement bringing attention to the plight not only of faculty but ultimately… your fight is the fight for quality education for the students,” said Monning.
Though the demonstrators were largely met with the support of drivers honking their horns as they passed by, Monday morning’s strike was not without mishap. Around 7:30 a.m., one of the demonstrators was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. The demonstrator received only minor injuries according to a CSUMB news release but was taken from the scene by ambulance. According to University Police, the incident is under investigation.
The Teamsters Local 2010 union, which represents 1,100 skilled trade workers across all CSU campuses, was expected to join the CFA in this week-long strike. However, they announced on Jan. 19 that they had reached a tentative agreement with the CSU and would no longer be striking.
According to a news update published by the CSU system, they agreed on a three-year contract which “must be ratified by the union membership and will be brought to the CSU Board of Trustees for approval at its March 2024 meeting.” The details of the agreement have not yet been published, but are expected to be revealed in the next few days.