California State University faculty launch weeklong strike across 23 campuses

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — More than 30,000 professors, librarians, plumbers, electricians and other workers in the California State University system have launched a weeklong strike. They’re demanding higher wages, more manageable workloads and increased parental leave. The strike comes on the first day of the spring semester for most of the system’s 450,000 students. Two weeks have passed since CSU ended contract negotiations with a unilateral offer of a 5% pay raise this year, effective Jan. 31. That’s far below the 12% the union is seeking. The California Faculty Association represents workers across Cal State’s 23 campuses. It’s the largest public university system in the United States.