SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State University faculty members began picketing on Monday as part of a systemwide strike at California State University campuses across the state.
They are calling for a pay raise, more parental leave and smaller classroom sizes, among other items.
"We're really fighting for the rights of our faculty and the learning conditions of our students," said Margarita Berta-Avila, who has been a professor at Sacramento State for more than 20 years.
Berta-Avila is also vice president of the California Faculty Association (CFA), which is the union leading the charge. The CFA is made up of nearly 30,000 California State University staff members.
"We want a 12% raise for all faculty so that includes coaches, councilors, librarians, lecturers, like myself, and what you might think of traditionally, the tenured track faculty, our professors," said Emily Bukowski, a lecturer in geography at Sacramento State.
She has been working there since fall of 2019.
"Teaching five classes a semester, 10 classes a year, I make $64,000 even though I have a PhD," she said.
Monday marks the first day of the semester at Sacramento State, but some students told us their classes for the week have already been canceled as their professors take to the picket lines.
"All of my classes got canceled, and I've got 6," said Alaina Maser, a sophomore at Sacramento State.
Despite the cancelation, students ABC10 spoke with say they support their teachers' cause.
"If there's extra money, that should be going to the professors. It should be," said sophomore Mia Cornejo.
A spokesperson for Sacramento State could not address the negotiations, but did say the strike would not impact student's course work or graduation.
"We are aware of the strike that's supposed to be happening January 22-26. We're trying to let our students know that campus is open," said Lanaya Lewis, a spokesperson for Sacramento State. "Resources are available for students."
In a statement addressing the strike, California State University said, "the CFA’s demand for a 12% raise would cost $312 million just this year. Their other economic demands, such as life insurance increases and raising the minimum pay add up to another $68 million, for a total of $380 (million). This is financially unrealistic."
The CSU said they have offered the CFA a 15% raise over three years, which would mean a 5% raise each year. They said they also offered two additional weeks of paid parental leave.
Organizers said the systemwide strike is expected to last until Friday.
The university said students should contact their professors to find out if they will be holding classes this week.
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