Welcome to a Fall Term of Joy and Solidarity!

As we welcome back students and colleagues to fall term, we hope faculty unplugged, recharged, and reconnected over the summer.  

Please join us in welcoming our newest colleagues to the California State University system. As members of CFA, we are excited for you to begin your journey and to join us in this important advocacy work.

“There is joy in our solidarity and our commitment to improving the CSU for each other and the diverse students we serve,” said CFA President Charles Toombs.

Our diligent work over the last academic year to protect, expand, and enforce faculty rights guaranteed under our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a powerful example of how CFA work is centered on assisting and supporting faculty in our careers in the CSU, including improving our working conditions. Bargaining for a new contract will begin in Spring 2025. Please look for a bargaining survey this fall where we can offer our input on ideas for the next contract. 

With CFA, faculty have a powerful voice to shape working conditions through bargaining and mobilizing for a strong contract.

Members from all over the state attended Fall Kickoff on August 9 and 10 to rally around our re-opener contract victories and prepare for the term ahead.

During the morning plenary, activists attended, led, and participated in panels about our union work for the fall as we strive to Liberate the CSU. Panels included bargaining preparations, campus mobilizing to elect pro-worker candidates to local state and national office, and an upcoming equity paper on how students are paying more in tuition and fees and getting less in instruction and support programs and the related impacts on faculty, staff and community. The report will draw attention to the disproportionate impact of CSU administrative poor decision-making and lack of commitment to support Black and brown students.

“Walking into the gathering, I was immediately embraced by the warmth and dedication of my fellow faculty members, united in a shared commitment to fostering a more equitable and just academic environment. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of purpose and camaraderie, reminding me of the vital importance of our collective efforts,” said Renee Penalver, CFA Monterey Bay Co-President, CSU Monterey Bay psychology professor, and first-time Kickoff attendee. “This experience strengthened my commitment to contribute meaningfully to our shared goals, like fighting for fair, equitable, and just working conditions. It was an unforgettable introduction to a community I am honored to engage with and support.”

In the afternoon, members attended interactive workshops about our Students for Quality Education (SQE) program, union basics, political advocacy, and bargaining.

“CFA kickoff was a blast. It was invigorating to celebrate and reflect on a path forward with my union siblings. The workshops were great and as a first-timer, I was amazed at how collegial and lively the debates were,” said Chris Hardnack, CFA San Marcos Lecturer Co-Representative, CSU San Marcos sociology lecturer, and first-time Fall Kickoff attendee.