Members of the California Faculty Association Bakersfield Chapter hosted an action rally on Oct. 4 to get the word out about the potential strike against Cal State management regarding faculty working conditions and the CSU 6% tuition increase.  

 California State University, Bakersfield staff, students, and members of the union showed up in middle of campus where there were tables to ask questions and show support for the union.  

Tracey Salisbury, CFA president and associate professor of ethnic studies, said that the union has been trying to improve the quality of life for faculty, but there has been no progress. Furthermore, Salisbury explained that the union is against the Cal State system’s 6% tuition increase because of the effects it will have on students.  

“This event is about the faculty and students… our working conditions are your learning conditions,” said Tiffany Tsantsoulas, philosophy and religious studies assistant professor and union member. 

Tsantsoulas said that the union is trying to negotiate with CSU management to improve the quality of life for the faculty on campus. 

Tsantsoulas said that she hoped there would have been be more faculty and staff who showed up to gather more information about the potential strike and show support. 

Students of Quality Education were also present, sharing information on the Cal State Systems 6% tuition increase and supporting the union. 

Sophia Lazala, Business major and intern for SQE, was providing information to students about the issues that they are advocating for and ways that they can support CSUB faculty. 

“Students need to be aware of what’s going on… It’s important to spread education,” Lazala said. 

Lazala said that faculty are striking because they have to; some of them are working multiple jobs to provide for their families, only receive 30 days of parental leave, and are not getting raises. If the faculty strikes, students should show their support by attending events that the union hosts and educating themselves on what the faculty are fighting for.  

According to, CFA‘s official website they are “negotiating for community well-being, safety on campus, appropriate workload, adequate and humane paid parental leave, and wages that keep pace with the cost of living and set a livable minimum standard for our lowest paid faculty.”  

Some students said that they were frustrated about the tuition increase and hoped that this would create change within higher administration. 

“It’s pretty frustrating, our tuition is going up… but not being allocated to where it should be,” said Sergio Flores, a junior kinesiology major.  

Flores said their professor is part of the union and that, during class, they explained what was going on and said that they could learn more at the action rally.  

Although the chapter had an action rally to start the movement, Salisbury said that striking was the last resort. 

For more information on the CFA, visit https://www.calfac.org/