CSU and Faculty Union Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

Contact: Clara Potes-Fellow, 562-951-4806, cpotes-fellow@calstate.edu

(Jan. 12, 2004) --The California State University and the California Faculty Association have reached a tentative agreement that extends the current contract until June 30, 2005 and addresses benefits for existing faculty and provisions for new faculty recruitment.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with our faculty,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Both the CSU and the CFA were confronted with the realities of the continuing fiscal crisis in the state, and made a tremendous effort accommodating to these difficult circumstances. This agreement gives us the opportunity to work together in Sacramento for the benefit of CSU faculty and students. ”

Major issues addressed in the tentative agreement include the following:

• Golden handshake (which gives retiring faculty additional years of service)
• Recruitments for new probationary faculty
• Rural health care stipend
• 12-month department chair stipend & AB 2549 (involving lecturers’ retirement)
• Changes in layoff procedures
• Changes regarding the faculty early retirement program

The CSU and the CFA have been bargaining since March 2003. The agreement requires ratification by the CFA executive committee and the CSU Board of Trustees. The Trustees will vote on the contract at their January 27-28 meeting.

The actual contract language is available here.

The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 409,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded about 2 million degrees. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See www.calstate.edu.