Faculty At Largest University System In US Launch Strike On First Day Of Classes

The California State University (CSU) faculty union went on strike Monday, the first day of classes for the semester, with demands that include pay raises and “gender-inclusive restrooms,” Politico reported.

The five-day strike is the largest of its kind in U.S. history, with the California Faculty Association (CFA) representing nearly 29,000 employees including professors and librarians, according to Politico. The union is demanding 12% pay raises that stays ahead of inflation, more “manageable workloads,” paid parental leave, “safe gender-inclusive restrooms” and “safety provisions” for faculty interactions with campus police, according to a CFA press release. 

“In recent news reports, CSU management has only addressed our conflict over salary; they have completely ignored the issues of workload, health and safety concerns, and parental leave. Management wouldn’t even consider our proposals for appropriate class sizes, proper lactation spaces for nursing parents, gender inclusive bathroom spaces, and a clear delineation of our rights when interacting with campus authorities,” Chris Cox, CFA vice president of racial & social justice, said in the press release.