Editorial: A Raise For Cal State Teachers

The California State University (CSU) faculty is currently negotiating with the administration a 5% salary increase, after having decided to go on strike if their demands are not met. As we have always defended  the students’ rights, in this case we believe that a better compensation for educators is in their best interest.

The Cal State situation requires a staff dedicated to attend the needs of about 400,000 students in 23 campus. Four of every five students receive financial help, the majority are the first ones to go to college in their family, and many of them work or need academic reinforcement after leaving secondary school without the necessary knowledge.

Their academic success depends on their own will, but also on the support of that teacher who will be available on campus to guide students struggling to balance different priorities. For the student, this wise voice is often the difference between success and failure.

According to data provided by CSU and California Faculty Assn., there are nearly 10,000 tenured or tenure-track professors in the system who earn an average of $84,000 per year. They are overwhelmed with work outside classes, student attention, research and publishing books. Meanwhile, more than half of the teachers have temporary jobs and are underpaid.  Today, a teacher with a doctorate in Cal State can earn less than a secondary-school teacher with seniority. The Big Recession led to five years without raises and furlough, reducing salaries by 10%.

Cal State has offered a 2% raise. As teachers failed to agree, an independent panel recently heard both arguments and decided in favor of the educators, plus an additional raise for the 43% of the faculty which, for structural reasons, earns less than other colleagues hired more recently.

Seeking funds to update Cal State teachers’ salaries goes beyond a labor demand. Its impact will also be felt  in the students who depend on a solid college training to be prepared for the future of California.