CSU Bakersfield faculty hit picket lines claiming they are overworked, underpaid in historic strike
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The first day of the semester was not typical one at CSU Bakersfield, it was a day filled with striking California Faculty Association members.
CFA Members say they are demanding a 12% pay raise, expanded paid parental leave, pay equity, manageable workloads, and more. Lecturer Kelly O’Bannon said meeting those demands in a new agreement could help faculty not feel forced to make tough decisions.
“No one should have to choose CSUB or another job,” O’Bannon said. “Many faculty could leave and go to a community college, elementary school, junior high, or high school and earn more than they do working here and that’s just simply unacceptable.”
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Full-time lecturer Timothy Burke is one of those faculty members who says after six years at CSUB he still has to work a side job at Bakersfield College just to get by.
“When we’re overworked, underpaid something suffers,” said Burke.
With the strike ongoing, many questions loomed if the campus was open and if classes were canceled or not. CSUB Interim President Vernon Harper Jr. said yes.
“Of course, we want a speedy resolution so everyone can get back to the work of this institution but importantly our campus remains open,” CSUB Interim President Vernon Harper Jr. said.
Students were advised to find whether their professors intend to hold class and encouraged to report if not.
“Students have been provided with that link and we encourage them to use that link to let us know what’s actually happening in the classroom,” said Harper Jr.
According to the CSU, it has offered:
a 15% raise over three years
two additional weeks of paid parental leave
to accept 13 of 15 recommendations including paid leave
But said in a statement, the CSU said CFA’s demand for a 12% immediate raise would be “financially unrealistic.” Burke said he couldn’t disagree more.
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“A living wage I don’t think is unrealistic. Equality in administrators’ pay and ours I don’t think is unrealistic. Show me what’s unrealistic about any of that. I just don’t feel that it is and that’s why we’re out here because it’s that important all of this means so much to all of us,” Burke said.
CFA members do plan to continue the system-wide strike for the rest of the week.
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