San Bernardino, CA – Contract negotiations between the California Faculty Association (CFA) and California State University (CSU) management have reached a tense impasse, with the union accusing administration officials of refusing to negotiate in good faith and undermining faculty rights.
In a statement released by the CFA Bargaining Team this week, union leaders allege that CSU management is stalling the collective bargaining process by insisting on closed-door sessions and rejecting proposals rooted in transparency and inclusion. The union, which represents approximately 29,000 faculty members across the CSU system, says the latest standoff is not just about procedural disagreements, but about deeper battles over power and academic values.
“Management was unwilling to make any sort of compromise and they won’t come back to the table unless they control how we show up to the table,” the union’s statement reads. “Their stonewalling is not about ground rules; it’s about power.”
The dispute centers on ground rules for contract negotiations. CFA’s open bargaining model invites member participation and public observation, a method union leaders say reflects their values of democratic governance and inclusion. However, according to the CFA, CSU administrators have rejected this approach, refusing to meet in person if anyone besides the official bargaining team is present.
The most recent flashpoint came when CSU management submitted a counterproposal that removed a clause affirming a commitment to racial and social justice, transparency, and inclusion—language the union views as foundational. “It is clear that they do not share our values,” the CFA’s bargaining team stated.
Beyond bargaining process concerns, the CFA argues that core faculty issues are being sidelined. Among them: academic freedom, fair compensation, manageable workloads, and shared governance, especially regarding the use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in teaching and assessment.
“This is not just about pay or workload,” said one faculty member who participated in an emergency bargaining town hall on Wednesday. “It’s about being respected as professionals in shaping the future of public education.”
In response to what they describe as persistent obstruction, the CFA has filed a charge with the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB), alleging the CSU has failed to bargain in good faith.
The CFA has also launched a grassroots campaign encouraging members and allies to write and call elected representatives and contact CSU Chancellor Mildred García. Union leaders claim that top CSU leadership, including García and the Board of Trustees, are intent on weakening faculty influence and eroding public higher education.
The chancellor’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the latest developments. In previous statements, CSU leadership has emphasized a desire to reach a fair and fiscally responsible agreement with the CFA, pointing to budget constraints and broader economic pressures facing public universities statewide.
Meanwhile, the CFA is urging its members to remain engaged by joining Article Committees focused on key negotiation points, including Articles 12 (Appointment), 15 (Evaluation), 16 (Tenure), and 20 (Workload), as well as proposed new articles on academic freedom and artificial intelligence.
“The unity of our members is our greatest strength,” the CFA wrote. “We will not let them unravel the people’s university.”
As tensions escalate, all eyes remain on the bargaining table, where the future of academic labor conditions across the CSU system hangs in the balance.