Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/669580
I T T O O K N E A R L Y two years, but the Cali- fornia Faculty Association (CFA) won a major victory in its long battle for higher education students and faculty. On April 8, CFA leaders and Timothy White, chancel- lor of the California State University (CSU) s y s t e m , re a c h e d a t e n t a t i v e agreement that averted w hat w o ul d h av e b e en th e l a rge st higher education strike in the nation's history. CFA's 26,000 members were prepared to strike at all 23 CSU campuses for five days, begin- ning April 13, in their fight for a 5 percent salary increase. "The Fight for Five and the willingness of CSU faculty to go on strike were basic to getting to this tentative agreement," said CFA President Jennifer Eagan. "e strong support of CTA and other allies made a key difference. ey recognize that CSU is an important engine for equity and fairness in California, and how faculty are treated is important for the experience of students." CTA President Eric C. Heins praised the agreement. " We are pleased the CSU administration is finally doing right by California's hardworking faculty," he said. "We applaud our CFA colleagues for staying strong while waiting for these long-overdue raises that recognize their hard work and dedication to educating our students. e CSU system's investment in CFA members secures a better future for all students." e tentative agreement includes: • 5 percent General Salary Increase on June 30, 2016. • 2 percent General Salary Increase on July 1, 2016. • 3.5 percent General Salary Increase on July 1, 2017. • 2.65 percent Service Salary Increase (step increase) during fiscal year 2017- 18 for eligible faculty. CFA and CSU management also commit- ted to work cooperatively going forward to protect the quality of public higher educa- tion, including jointly seeking appropriate funding from the Legislature to accomplish the mission of the CSU. CFA members have gone without sal- ary increases since 2008, and CFA leaders re p or t th at m any lo st th e ir h om e s or declared bankruptcy. Some made ends meet through food stamps and other forms of public assistance. CFA's case gained additional support f ro m a l a t e Ma rc h re p o r t i ssu e d by a neutral fact finder that determined the university should meet CFA's salary boost demand and work with the union to make CSU salaries more competitive. CFA's bargaining team and executive board are recommending that members ratify the pact. Members are expected to vote by the end of April. If the agreement is ratified, it is expected to go before the CSU Board of Trustees at its May 24-25 meeting. See calfac.org for details on the tenta- tive agreement. C A L L S F O R L E G I S L AT I O N Before the contract agreement, as CFA members prepared to visit legislators on Lobby Day, Eagan urged them to focus on two pieces of legislation: • AB 2 1 6 3 ( Ev a n L ow, D - C a m p b e l l) , which would force the CSU system to introduce transparency into the uni- versity president appointment process, currently hidden in closed sessions. • AB 2019 (Miguel Santiago, D-Los Ange- les), which would for the first time make annual st ep salar y increases automatic for CSU staff. E X T E N D I N G P R O P. 3 0 Heins says educators need to make sure resources continue to be available through the California Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act, expected to be on the November ballot. " P r o p o s i t i o n 3 0 , p a s s e d i n 2 0 1 2 , restored funding to public education and stopped classroom cuts," he said. "With those revenues set to sunset soon , this new measure would temporarily extend the income tax increase on California's wealthiest 2 percent to prevent another round of devastating cuts and provide funding for schools, colleges and health care for low-income children." CFA President Jennifer Eagan, Bargaining Chair Kevin Wehr, and Director of Representation Kathy Sheffield announce a three-year tentative agreement with CSU on April 8. Victorious Fight for Five — and More CFA's tentative agreement with CSU secures better future for educators, students By LEN FELDMAN BARGAINING 33 April 2016