Today, the faculty of City College of San Francisco went on a one-day strike. It’s the first strike in the union’s three-decade history, and it comes after a year of failed negotiations with CCSF administration.
The union is protesting a plan to decrease the size of the college by 26%. Also at issue is faculty salary. The union says it's below median for the region, and hasn't been increased since 2007.
Chancellor Susan Lamb made a statement saying the salary raises demanded by the union aren't possible because of plummeting enrollment. CCSF has lost 30% of it's student body since 2012—ever since the school was threatened with disaccreditation, scaring away many current and prospective students.
35-year faculty member Allan Fisher said,
"The administration has built up a $60 million reserve on the backs of their employees. We’re working harder and they’ve kept us below what we were making back in 2007 while the cost of living has skyrocketed and teachers can’t afford to live in this city at this point... The administration is not doing anything constructive to rebuild enrollment."
Fisher and other faculty members have expressed their support for an initiative proposed by Supervisor Jane Kim. Kim’s idea is to fund tuition with an increased tax on commercial and residential buildings that sell for more than $5 million. For more on this issue, listen to today's (4/27) episode of Your Call with Rose Aguilar.
