The Abridged version:
- Nonteaching staff and student workers at Sacramento State are threatening to strike by the time students return to campus next fall.
- Their warnings are part of statewide contract disputes between the California State University Employees Union and California State University system. The union’s current contract expired Tuesday, and bargaining continues Wednesday.
- Groups of Sacramento State employees held practice pickets Tuesday.
Staff and student workers at Sacramento State said they are prepared to strike by the time fall classes resume.
“What do we want? Fair contracts,” a group of about 25 workers chanted Tuesday during a 10-minute march around the campus library quad.
Their “practice picket,” one of three demonstrations scheduled throughout the day, coincided with the expiration of the contract between the California State University Employees Union and the California State University system.
The union, which represents 36,000 employees statewide, is demanding higher wages, job security protections and fewer outside contractors.
A spokesperson for Sacramento State declined to comment, pointing out that bargaining is centralized between the university system and statewide union, not involving individual campuses.
“The CSU respects the free speech right of our union members,” said Amy Bentley-Smith, spokesperson for the university system. “The CSU is currently in negotiations with CSUEU and is committed to bargaining in good faith toward achieving an agreement that recognizes and supports the work of our staff in fulfilling CSU’s mission.”
When would a strike happen?
The most recent contract expiring Tuesday enabled union leaders to call for a strike.
A majority of members would need to vote on that action before a start date is picked.
According to a June 26 bargaining update, labor leaders are eyeing this fall for a work stoppage across the almost two dozen campuses that make up CSU, including Sacramento State.
Another round of negotiations is scheduled for Wednesday at California State University, Los Angeles. Employees have planned a larger rally outside the bargaining session.
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.