Layoff Notices Continue to Plague the CSU

As if the backlash and attacks on education at the federal level weren’t bad enough, we have even more to deal with in the CSU under Chancellor Garcia’s leadership. With budget concerns (planned 7.95 percent cut to the state appropriations as of July 1, 2025), enrollment declines on some campuses, and mismanagement of CSU resources, we are seeing more layoffs than we did in the great recession.

Job loss in the CSU mainly comes through non-reassignment to temporary faculty (lecturers, coaches, counselors, and librarians who are not on the tenure line). But when the CSU intends to cut tenure-line faculty and full-time “temporary” faculty jobs, it must adhere to Article 38 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). CSU management must notify CFA members as soon as they are considering layoffs for budgetary reasons or for program elimination. The CBA also sets out notice requirements for individuals depending on their employment status and the type of layoff.

While some specific campus administrations have given official layoff notices, it’s important to highlight that all of the campuses on that list, as well as others like San Francisco State, Chico State, and Humboldt, have already faced devastating cuts.

At San Francisco State, administrators have slashed 155 lecturer faculty jobs since 2019 and eliminated 1,080 course sections. Similar levels of cuts have already impacted East Bay in the lead up to layoff notices. This has deeply impacted the quality of education that students receive.

When it comes to official layoffs, here’s what we have seen over the past year:

In February 2024, CSU Monterey Bay employees got a layoff notice that resulted in a few layoffs connected to a particular program that lost its accreditation. They received another notice of the possible need for layoffs in April 2024.

In March 2024, CFA members were notified that the CSU Maritime Academy may need to implement layoffs due to budget concerns. We are meeting with management to explore alternative and mitigation. CSU Maritime is also undergoing a merger with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and we have yet to see the impact on faculty jobs.

At CSU East Bay, the administration has twice issued general layoff notices (one in August 2024 and one in February 2025). The August 2024 layoff resulted in the elimination of jobs and work in General Studies and Modern Languages and Literatures.

At San Jose State University, the CSU first threatened the possibility of layoffs in October 2024. In January 2025, administration issued a layoff notice. There are two individuals facing layoffs in Public Health and Recreation due to program elimination.

At Sonoma State, the CSU first threatened the possibility of layoffs in October 2024. In January 2025 we learned of specifics; a third of the faculty will lose their jobs unless the university reverses its course. The campus and greater community have mounted an impressive campaign to stop the layoffs.

Between the months of December 2024 to February 2025, three campuses, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Channel Islands, and CSU Los Angeles have learned of the possibility of layoffs.

We are meeting with management to explore alternatives and mitigation for all aforementioned campuses.

Administrative positions and salaries continue to grow, despite student fee increases and worker job loss.

It’s important to understand that these layoffs and cuts should not be happening. The CSU system is currently operating under a systemwide surplus, and the system has seen net-positive growth in enrollment as a system.

Even campuses that are in a strong financial condition are facing austerity measures. The problem lies in how CSU management has badly managed our money. They’ve funneled our money into paying for their bloated executive salaries, and they’ve intentionally racked up institutional debt (to improve their bond ratings) by approving lavish low-priority construction projects, rather than investing in classrooms, fair wages, and student programs and resources.

For far too long, CSU management has been prioritizing corporate interests above the well-being of students, faculty, staff, and our communities. It’s time we held them accountable and demand real investment into an education our students deserve.