California State University faculty members are going on strike to demand better pay and more parental leave.
Faculty members started its series of four one-day strikes on Monday.
Driving the news: Strikes are going on at Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State, Cal State Los Angeles and Sacramento State.
- This is the latest push by the California Faculty Association, which represents around 29,000 employees.
- Faculty members are seeking parental leave increased from six weeks to a full semester, 12 percent salary raises, more manageable workloads, better access to breastfeeding stations and more gender-inclusive bathrooms.
What they’re saying: Anne Luna, the California Faculty Association president of the Sacramento chapter, said employees need pay raises and increased benefits because the cost of living has increased in recent years.
- “They can afford to provide fair compensation and safe working conditions,” Luna said in a statement. “It’s time to stop funneling tuition and taxpayer money into a top-heavy administration.”
- On the other hand, the CSU chancellor’s office says the union’s demands would cost $380 million in new spending and be $150 million more than the increased funding provided by the state this year.
