Why a faculty strike is looming at the state university system

Faculty members at the California State University system, the nation's largest four-year public university system, plan to cancel classes and strike next week as they demand higher wages and better working conditions.

The California Faculty Association, which represents 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches, says it will begin a five-day strike on Monday, the first day of the spring semester for most students. Strikes are planned at all 23 campuses, from Humboldt to San Diego, which together serve nearly 460,000 students.

The strike was initiated after university officials ended contract negotiations last week after offering a 5 percent pay increase; the union is aiming for wage increases of 12 percent. University leaders said they were facing a huge budget deficit and could not afford to meet the union's demands without resorting to layoffs and other cuts.

“We have been in the negotiation process for eight months and the CFA has shown no movement, leaving us with no choice but to break off the talks,” Leora Freedman, the university system's vice chancellor for human resources, said in a statement. declaration. She added that the system had recently reached an agreement with five other unions for 5 percent wage increases.

Union president Charles Toombs said he hoped the university would return to the bargaining table so the strike could be averted.

In addition to wage increases, the union also wants to raise the salary floor for full-time employees from $54,360 to $64,360, and is asking for other provisions, including class size caps and expansion of paid parental leave.

“That's where we are,” Toombs told me. “We know that a system-wide strike within the CSU will be historic.”

The union's members implemented a daylong work stoppage in early December at four of the system's largest campuses: Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State, Cal State Los Angeles and Sacramento State.

Hazel Kelly, a spokesperson for the system, told me that all campuses would remain open during the strike and that university leaders would try to limit disruptions to students. She said it was possible that not all classes would be canceled because some faculty members may not participate in the strike.

The jobs action comes after a particularly busy year for labor actions, especially in California. Hollywood actors and writers went on strike; so did hotel and healthcare workers. Los Angeles school employees staged a major strike in March, and Oakland teachers were absent for nearly two weeks in May.

Tell us

Pea Soup Andersen's, one of California's most beloved roadside restaurants, has become dark – and loyal fans are angry.

The public consternation made us wonder what other roadside attractions hold a special place in the hearts of Californians. What billboards, restaurants or stores do you always visit (or just notice) on a road trip through the Golden State? What do these landmarks mean to you?

Email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com with your stories and memories. Please include your full name and the city where you live.

And before you go: good news

While the afternoon tea service may seem like an activity fit for royalty (or, historically, for mid-19th century English nobility), the tradition is experiencing a revival.

In Southern California, establishments like the Peninsula Beverly Hills, London West Hollywood and Rose Tree Cottage have seen an influx of new customers, many of them in their 20s and 30s, who say tea time gives them a chance to unplug to catch up and connect with others face to face.

The custom, which feels both solemn and nostalgic, can be a powerful refuge from the chaos of the outside world, entrepreneurs say.

“My husband called it a sanctuary,” Mary Fry, who runs Rose Tree Cottage with her husband, told Styles reporter Steven Kurutz in a recent article for The Times. “It's a refuge in a crazy, crazy world that's going on right now. People want to escape with something traditional.”

Thank you for reading. I'll come back tomorrow. — Soumya

PS Here it is today's mini crossword.

Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team via CAtoday@nytimes.com.

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