California State University faculty reach tentative deal to end strike

California State University (CSU) faculty have reached a tentative deal with school officials after a one-day strike.  

The California Faculty Association (CFA) reached the agreement after nearly 30,000 employees participated in a strike on the country’s largest four-year public school system. 

All employees will be back at their positions Tuesday, cutting the weeklong planned strike short, while a vote is put together to ratify the agreement by all members. 

“The collective action of so many lecturers, professors, counselors, librarians, and coaches over these last eight months forced CSU management to take our demands seriously. This Tentative Agreement makes major gains for all faculty at the CSU,” CFA President Charles Toombs said. 

The deal comes with a general salary increase of 5 percent this July and a retroactive increase of 5 percent to all employees from July 2023.  

The union also got the base pay for the lowest paid workers to increase and an extension in maternity leave.  

“Our hard-earned TA [tentative agreement] reflects the solidarity displayed by faculty, staff, and students across all 23 campuses. To all the hard-working faculty who have been organizing on the street and on campus, your efforts have earned this victory. Thank you to our statewide community of support,” according to the statement.  

CSU Chancellor Mildred García also released a statement praising the tentative deal, The Associated Press reported.  

“I am extremely pleased and deeply appreciative that we have reached common ground with CFA that will end the strike immediately,” García said. “The agreement enables the CSU to fairly compensate its valued, world-class faculty while protecting the university system’s long-term financial sustainability.” 

The Hill has reached out to CSU for comment.