As the climate emergency continues to unfold, Californians know to expect ongoing interruptions – and, at times, tragedies – impacting everyday life, including our working lives within the CSU. Greater Los Angeles is still smoldering, from Altadena to the Pacific Palisades, as many campuses begin the Spring 2025 academic term, and faculty from Chico and Sacramento are still recovering from the Camp Fire.

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CFA members have, during each round of bargaining, attempted to impress upon CSU management that they need to do more to support faculty as emergencies, from climate events to pandemics, increase in frequency and severity.

Article 23 (Leaves of Absence with Pay) and Article 24 (Sick Leave) offer some forms of support for faculty who are facing conditions of emergency in their lives, as many Angelenos currently are confronting.

Article 23.19, for example, offers emergency leave support for faculty, at the discretion of the university president. It states:

“An emergency leave with pay may be granted to a faculty unit employee by the President in the event of a natural catastrophe or an emergency situation that places the health or safety of the faculty unit employee or the employee’s immediate family in jeopardy. The President may also grant emergency leave to faculty unit employees who require leave due to violent crimes, domestic violence, and/or sexual assault. Such leaves shall normally be of short duration.”

While this form of support is discretionary, faculty should feel encouraged to request what we need, and to cite this provision in any request made to the appropriate administrator. Do call on your campus CFA faculty rights advocate to assist you with such a request.

Additionally, Article 24 offers additional support. CFA has secured a process through which faculty can donate leave to one another, including in the event of a natural disaster. If you know of colleagues who are overwhelmed with the loss of their home, their children’s school, and more, you can offer your support via the Catastrophic Leave Donation Program in Article 24.23, which states:

“Any CSU employee who accrues vacation or sick leave credits may voluntarily donate either of those credits to any other CSU employee on the same campus, if the recipient employee has exhausted all accrued leave credits, i.e., sick leave, vacation, and CTO, due to a catastrophic illness or injury, or whose principal place of residence has been impacted by a natural disaster and state of emergency.”

If you are a survivor of a recent natural disaster, review Articles 23 and 24, and seek out support from your chapter leaders here. You can also apply to our unionwide disaster relief fund. More information can be found here

Want to learn more? Become active with your local CFA chapter Faculty Rights team. Find your representative here.

  • Browse the faculty contract here.
  • See an archive of Faculty Rights Tips.
  • If you have questions about a faculty rights tip or would like to suggest a tip, please write us with the subject line “Faculty Rights Tip.”
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