Today, we held our first strike informational meeting. We discussed the importance of solidarity and unity with each other as we face the realities of a 5-day strike with our Teamster staff colleagues, who will be Sympathy Striking on our picket lines on all 23 CSU campuses.
Now more than ever, it is clear that if we don’t fight for respect and dignity in our workplace, no one will give it to us - especially under the new Chancellor’s leadership. Despite our attempts to bargain with Management, they continue to show up to the bargaining table empty handed with no counter proposals to bargain over. We believe their plan for imposing their Last, Best, and Final offer was premeditated since they have yet to show true interest in bargaining with faculty.
SIGN UP FOR THE PICKET LINE HERE
The official start date of the semester is January 18, 2024, and you may be invited to meetings and asked to participate in the normal course of work as you would in preparation for classes at the start of any semester. The effective strike date is January 22-26. This means no work is conducted during this time (including online learning, emails, canvas, grading, etc.). You cannot use personal or sick time if you are participating in the strike. Management does have the right to dock your pay if you do choose to participate in the strike; however, you are not obligated to self-report.
You may receive threatening emails from administration or managers about your participation in the strike. It is absolutely inappropriate for management to ask if you plan to participate in protected union activities - like job action a/k/a strike. If this happens, please make sure to inform our Faculty Rights Chair, Molly Talcott, and/or Marcelle Alvarado, Field Representative (emails below).
We strike for a university that does justice to our students and its workers. Just as we did in December, we know we will shut down the university again - and this time, statewide. For information about the strike, please visit our toolkit which contains preliminary information about the strike lines, sample language for students and syllabi: CFA-LA Strike Toolkit. It will be updated periodically, and as necessary. Finally, the CFA-LA Executive Board is currently working on establishing a Strike Hardship Fund for faculty in need - more details are to come.
Important dates to save:
1/15 at 12PM: Strike Lead Meeting (register for zoom link): https://calfac.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvdemvqTIoGdTZE_tBfQD4rumOi6-UvSEF)
1/16 at 5 PM: Statewide CAT Strike Prep Meeting (register):
https://forms.office.com/r/FfzvHihvHn
1/17 at 3PM: Statewide Dept Chairs’ Strike Q&A (register):
1/19 at 4PM: CFA-LA Strike Informational Meeting (register):
https://calfac.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIucuCvrTIpGdbj6sWuB8_muAjfNjqqimO6
1/20 at 12N: Strike Training for Strike Captains, Security and Medics - In-Person, Location TBD; Volunteers needed (If interested, please email: MAlvarado@calfac.org and/or MTalcott@calfac.org)
