It is with great sorrow that the Spek Family shares the passing of our beloved Hans Spek, an incredible local and international artist, teacher, and dreamer. He passed peacefully in Humboldt County on the morning of November 25th, 2023 knowing he was deeply loved. Hans was preceded in death by his lovely wife Christine Spek on July 28, 2020 during the pandemic. Christine departed this world in the home her and Hans shared and the wonderful environment they created together with Hans, daughter Lisette, and family by her side. Hans and Christine were so cherished and loved.

Hans was born on March 1, 1934 in the city of Haarlem in his homeland of Holland. He came into this world on Centauru Straat in his family’s home on the street he shared with his grandmother. He had a little sister who he loved. He was a clear joy to his family throughout his childhood, an adorable and spirited baby and child as evidenced by the many family photos. He was a wanderer and was known to be found by his fathers fellow policemen on the other side of town exploring from a young age. Hans, like many of his children and grandchildren, was towheaded with a great big smile. Christine was born Christine Schoemaker in the city of Delft, Holland on April 6th 1935. She was a sweet and caring child, the oldest of five children. Christine was descended from rose breeders and Hans was from the family who had long served the Dutch royals through forestry. Both of their fathers were policemen, Hans’ father with the Royal Police. Christine’s father was a part of the dutch underground and helped save many lives through his work with the Dutch Resistance during the war years. Hans and Christine were both mischievous, perhaps one of the qualities that united the two. They lived through and survived many of the unspeakable tragedies of World War II in their childhoods but in spite of the pain they both witnessed and experienced, their spunky and fun loving personalities persisted.

During the war, Hans’ family moved from his hometown of Haarlem he loved so much to a house in the country in Vaassen where they survived on the farmland. They then moved to Apeldoorn where Hans’ grandfather was a forester to the royals at Het Loo palace. Christine’s family lived in Arnhem during the war years, moving to Apeldoorn during the Hunger Winter following the war. This was where Hans and Christine met when they were 13 and 14 years old. They attended high school together at Queen Wilhelmina High School where they were taught English, German, and French in addition to their native language of Dutch. Hans took art classes with a Dutch Master outside of school, encouraged by his mother who respected his great passion for art.

It was at Queen Wilhelmina High School that Hans and Christine fell in love. Christine loved that Hans was an artist and wanderer, and Hans loved that Christine was dedicated and funny. Their parents and teachers disapproved, but neither Hans nor Christine allowed that to hamper their connection, they insisted on being together. They went on many adventures together in the Netherlands, trips to the Island of Terschelling to tan and have great fun with their friends, travel to Austria, a bike trip through Belgium countryside where Hans slept in the farm houses, and so many more wonderful times. After high school Hans was in the Air Force in Holland for two years and then worked as a cartographer making maps. Christine was a writer and editor for a publishing company in Delft where her high intellect was recognized. In 1958, Hans and Christine were married and boarded a boat to immigrate to a new country at the ages of 23 and 24. America had limited availability at the time, so they settled for Canada. Christine was nervous to leave her homeland, but Hans reassured her that if she ever needed they could return, they might as well have an adventure - and they did! First stop was Canada where their first child, son Jeff, was born. Christine was delighted to be a mother, she loved babies and children. Hans worked as a surveyor and was soon offered an opportunity to immigrate again, this time to Southern California. They jumped at the chance and it was in Santa Ana that they welcomed their daughter Lisette.During their years as a family in Southern California, Hans worked as a Civil Engineer and painted avidly in his free time, teaching oil painting lessons up to three times a week. He traveled to Alaska through his employment where he saw nature that deeply inspired him.

Christine was a dedicated mother and wife, she was incredibly intelligent and went to college while her children were in school to earn a B.A. in Literature from Cal State Fullerton. She then opened a popular and quality store in Tustin selling Many wonderful imports and decorations. Hans and Christine were both creating avidly during this time, Hans with his oil paints and watercolors and Christine with watercolors, textile stitching, knits, and recipes. They went on family vacations with their kids to Europe and road trips to the Tetons they loved so much in Wyoming. Hans enjoyed adventures with his daughter, spending time with his son fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park, and skiing with his family in the winter. Hans and Christine later went back to the Tetons with both of their children and all five grandchildren where wonderful memories were made. Hans always wanted to go on an adventure, both big and small, and Christine was perpetually along for the ride, she was amused by her loved ones interests and always joined in - even with Skiing eventually!

Christine loved to cook and bake incredible dishes and Hans heavily preferred her cooking. She loved to read Russian literature and, like her father’s family, grew beautiful roses in her garden. Hans enjoyed going fishing, maps, collecting trinkets, exploring in nature, and listening to music, especially organ music. He had a liking for mastery and tradition, and Christine had one for creativity. Hans was a dreamer, his entire life he reported many fantastically realistic dreams, often flying through landscapes and exploring many lands. Hans was an incredibly talented and accomplished oil painter and artist, he was so proud of his paintings and felt a deep connection to and was inspired by many of the grand master painters such as Rembrandt (his favorite), Frans Hals, Canaletto, Caravaggio, and Vermeer. He replicated a number of their famous works throughout his lifetime between his own landscapes, portraits, and still lives. Christine was accepting of everyone and always open to new ideas and experiences. She loved a hearty conversation, even if someone’s views didn’t match her own. Christine was incredibly righteous. Both Hans and Christine were wickedly humorous, so keen, observant, and clever. They were companions in every sense of the word.

Hans and Christine moved for the final time in 2006 to Humboldt County to fulfill Christine’s dream of living near grandchildren; Hans graciously agreed even though he was pained to leave the art market where his paintings sold so well in Southern California. They moved to Fortuna, a community they loved and a landscape that inspired Hans’ later artworks. Here, they both participated in raising 3 of their 5 grandchildren, granddaughters Rhea, Ula, and Marlo.

Christine jumped right in to help pick them up from school, cook amazing weekly family dinners, host weekend and holiday sleepovers at her house, and brought a loving and soft touch to every milestone. She made incredible pancakes. They never missed a holiday or birthday since the day their cherished first granddaughter Rhea was born. They often went back to Holland and made trips to Florida to visit their son Jeff, grandsons Garret and Ian, and great-granddaughter Willow. Hans had an art studio in their garage again where he continued to paint while Christine knitted many masterpieces and gifted them to her family.

Hans was a member of the Redwood Art Association for many years. Christine hiked often with the Ramblers walking group, Hans would join periodically, and they loved farmers’ markets and good cafes. Hans taught all three of his granddaughters to drive. Christine was incredibly close with her family, especially daughter Lisette with whom she held a strong bond and granddaughter Marlo who was her very best friend. They spent a lot of time together at cafes, the knitting shop, advising each other on sewing and designing, and being so comfortable in each others company. Christine was a master gardener and had show-winning Daffodils in the Daffodils by the River flower show in Fortuna. Hans continued to teach art lessons and had many students in Humboldt County who he loved to spend time with, he won many awards for his paintings. Hans advised his granddaughters Marlo and Ula in art over the years. Everywinter, Hans made his traditional Dutch New Years Olibollen donuts and they sent Dutch chocolate letters to the family in Florida for Christmas.

When Christine’s health began to decline, Lisette and her children cared for her and had a jam- packed last year full of memories. Hans never left her side until the very end. He was devastated to lose his wonderful wife of 62 years and friend of 72 years. In his final years, he spent a great deal of quality time with daughter Lisette who cared for him lovingly as well as his granddaughters. Lisette and her daughters provided him much care and often took him on car rides and adventures.

Hans and his best friend Ula spent an incredible amount of time together in his final five years. They shared a brilliant connection and friendship creating and discussing art. Marlo devoted herself to a well-forged common bond with Hans in artistry. Marlo and Ula were his protégés and carry on his legacy in painting. The family made every holiday a party for Hans. In The end of his 89th year, after a stellar visit with his son and a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with his family, Hans went “home” to be with his wife Christine who he loved so much. His last drawing was the Tetons, a reflection of his love for the time spent with his family and so many wonderful memories. He had just spoken with his daughter and let her know he had dreampt of all of the people who he loved. He was excited and ready for his next trip.

There will be a memorial and celebration of life held on Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church: 2132 Smith Lane in Fortuna. Artists and friends who knew Hans and Christine are encouraged and welcome to attend the event. Many thanks to all who made this community so great for them. Thank you to Emma for your loyal friendship to our Hans. And thank you to Lisette for your hard work over many years providing the absolute best care and attention to Hans and Christine.

To our beloved Hans and Christine, thank you so much for your incredible beings. The Spek Family loves you both so dearly. We will always keep your lights alive. We houden zoveel van je!

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Katherine Faye Fulton, nee Lunsford
June 19, 1941-November 25, 2023

Katherine Fulton (aka Katie, Kat, Kaye, Kathy, Katherine (say it like Kathereen)) went home to heaven on November 25. She had dreamed of being with Jesus in heaven for such a long time, and now it’s real. Still, it was a surprise. She just didn’t recover from cancer surgery.

She had a twinkle in her eye and a great smile. She was always “put together,” knowing how to combine colors and fabrics. Not that she spent a lot — she was great at thrift shopping, And for a while, she worked at a Salvation Army store. Talk about temptation.

She loved the bling and the shoes. When I asked her why she bought another pair of black shoes, she would say, “But I didn’t have any like these.” She didn’t really know where she got me. We were so different — me with my plain tastes. But somehow her influence caught up with me. I think of her every time I have to cram things down to close an overstuffed dresser drawer

Katherine was creative. She wrote songs, some of them pretty good, and taught herself to play piano by ear. I teased her at times that everything she played sounded like church music, but I think that was a compliment to her.

Another form of her creativity: when my brother and I were small, she buffed her freshly waxed floors by dragging us around on a blanket. We thought it was great fun and looked forward to it. We had no idea she was USING us!

Katherine loved simple pleasures, like good coffee. When she and my dad lived just 1/2 mile from me, I would see them pass by my house, and they would never stop. When I asked her about that, she said “we knew you didn’t have any coffee.” I bought a coffee maker, but I think it was just too late. In more recent years when I visited her in a residential facility, I didn’t dare arrive without coffee. I kind of hated the last few weeks in the skilled nursing facility where I couldn’t bring it.

So, the residential facility…mom had her struggles with mental health. Finding peace and wellness has been a hard thing, and I’d like to think she has it now.

Katherine was born in Antioch, California, and her family moved to McKinleyville when she was about 10 years old. She lived there until she married Earnest Fulton when she was 15, and they moved to Texas when he entered the Air Force. Their children, David and Deborah, were born while they lived there. In the nearly 30 years they were married, they moved back to California, and then to Oklahoma and Washington. She returned to McKinleyville after they divorced, and she lived there, and then in Eureka, until 2020.

Katherine was the oldest child in her family. She is preceded in death by her parents Velva Lunsford (Hammers), Herman Lunsford Sr., and George Martin Dignan as well as by her son, David Fulton, her sisters Doris Lunsford and Patricia Andersen, and her brother, James Dignan.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Burdett (Greg); siblings Herman Lunsford, Jr. aka Pete (Juanita), Betty Neely (David), Sharon Cain, Mary Lee Andersen (Glenn), Don Dignan (Betty), Linda Trimm, Kenneth (Marilyn), Irene Hopkins (Jim), Doug Lunsford, Jonathan (Patricia), Carson (Carol), Brad; and grandson Theo Hyde

Katherine will be interred at Ocean View Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 2, at 11 a.m. at New Hope Church of God, 2022 Sutter Road, McKinleyville.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Jason Balke | Booking photo

On 11/30/2023, at about 10:00 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 1900 block of Sutter Road in McKinleyville for the report of male subject brandishing a knife.

Deputies arrived on scene and located a male subject who they identified as 43-year-old Jason Balke. Balke was walking in the middle of Sutter Road and removed a large fixed-blade knife from his jacket.

Balke brandished the knife towards the deputies in a threatening manner as they approached. Deputies commanded Balke to drop the knife but he refused to do so. Balke then fled from deputies on foot.

Deputies pursued Balke onto Central Avenue. Balke continued running while armed with the knife and deputies attempted to keep him from busy public areas. Balke began running towards Safeway on Central Avenue.

For the safety of the public, deputies requested Safeway be locked down. Deputies then deployed a less lethal shotgun to induce Balke to drop the knife. Deputies fired less lethal bean bag rounds at Balke striking him.

Balke still refused to drop the knife and continued running towards Safeway. Deputies then utilized a Taser device which effectively subdued Balke. Deputies were able to detain Balke in handcuffs without further incident.

Balke sustained minor injuries, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Balke was then booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for felony resisting arrest (PC 69(A)), brandishing (PC 417(A)(1)), criminal threats (PC 422(A)), and probation violation (PC 1203.2(A).  

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the California Highway Patrol and California State Parks for their assistance with this investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Life in Eureka will almost assuredly be more “aww”-inspiring going forward thanks to the latest wild and wet addition at the Sequoia Park Zoo. 

Noni and Tule

Earlier this week, Noni and Tule, the zoo’s pair of American black bears, were given their first access to a new, luxurious habitat. Designed and built by local artificial waterfall specialist Ben Goulart, the expansive exhibit boasts a 50-foot cascading waterfall stream adorned with massive 2,000-pound boulders sourced from the mountains east of Eureka. The area also features a 60-foot-long, four-foot-deep pond for the animals to cool off in. 

Goulart told the Outpost he was able to witness Noni and Tule’s first moments in their new wet playground. “It almost brought a tear to my eye,” he said. “They immediately climbed up through the waterfall sections, played in the water, and even jumped right into the pond.” Even though it was the animal’s first water experience, “they took to it like fish and were playing like little kids. It was awesome!”

Scroll for some photos of the zoo’s aquatic bear wonderland courtesy of Jeffrey Schwartz. Additional information about the project can be found in the zoo release farther down. 

Sequoia Park Zoo release: 

Sequoia Park Zoo is excited to announce that Noni and Tule have started exploring the dynamic west area of the newest habitat at the Zoo. Affectionately called the “front yard”, this wild-inspired space includes a waterfall and pond to play in, log structures to explore and forage, and plenty of trees to climb.

American black bears, Noni and Tule, were found orphaned in the wild and taken to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) for rehabilitation in spring of 2022. Despite the best efforts of their wildlife care team, California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined that the cubs were not suitable for release, and Noni and Tule were transferred to Sequoia Park Zoo in late May of 2023. Since then, the rambunctious yearling bears have delighted visitors, staff, and volunteers with their climbing antics and playful personalities.

“It’s amazing watching them explore,” says Amanda Auston, Animal Curator at Sequoia Park Zoo. “Animal care staff will be closely monitoring them, especially over the next few days, and all signs are positive for a continued and smooth transition to the full habitat.”

Introducing animals to a new habitat is a carefully coordinated process, and Noni and Tule have spent the past few months learning skills and behaviors that help Zoo staff care for them. One of the most important behaviors for Noni and Tule to practice and master is a “recall”, in which animal care staff call them from the habitat to the care quarters for treats and positive reinforcement. Asking animals to move from one space to another is a simple and critical skill that eases veterinary visits, reinforces training, and allows staff to clean and service the habitats.

Noni and Tule began their foray into the front yard on Monday morning and spent the day exploring the new space under the watchful eyes of staff and volunteers. Known for perching atop the redwoods in the familiar backyard habitat, Noni wasted no time in determining which trees are best for climbing and set to work “pruning” a new vantage point. Tule made himself at home searching for snacks among the logs and leaves and tired himself out chasing Noni up the trees. Both bears are strong swimmers, and they each spent time splashing in the pond and exploring the waterfall.

Animals at Sequoia Park Zoo have many opportunities to demonstrate a full range of natural behaviors and adaptations, and Noni and Tule can decide whether they want to explore the habitat, play in their covered patio, or sleep in their indoor den. Depending on where the bears choose to be, they might not always be visible to visitors. Guests are encouraged to check the feeding schedule posted daily at the front of the Zoo for the best opportunities to observe the animals and talk with staff and volunteers.

Noni and Tule’s habitat at Sequoia Park Zoo has been generously funded by Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria and is part of the recent expansion that includes the award-winning Redwood Sky Walk. Visitors can immerse themselves in the richness and beauty of the redwoods and learn about the amazing plants and animals that call the forest home.

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Press release from the Myers for Assembly campaign:

Eureka, CA – Today, Yurok Tribe Vice Chairman Frankie Myers declared his candidacy for California Assembly District 2. “I have spent my entire adult life working with tribal, state and federal lawmakers, local communities, and private corporations to solve some of the North Coast’s most pressing issues. I am eager to use my experience to build a brighter future for District 2 and the entire state.”

Myers, a Democrat, decided to run for the District 2 Assembly seat because he wants to apply his leadership skills, experience, vision and values to serve the people of California. “We have a mental health and fentanyl crisis in our communities, climate change is threatening our environment, and too many Californians work full time but still can’t afford healthcare, let alone buy a home. Improving access to healthcare and high-paying jobs are just a few of the issues I want to take on as your next Assemblymember,” said Myers. “I can’t do it alone, but if the people of the district elect me, I am committed to building a broad coalition to tackle the big problems that affect all of us.”

For more than two decades, Myers was a leader in the successful effort to remove four fish-killing dams on the Klamath River. He helped build a diverse coalition of tribes, fishermen, conservation groups, farmers and even the dam owners to address this complex challenge. Currently underway, the Klamath dam removal is the most ambitious salmon restoration project in world history.

“Frankie Myers brought people from all walks of life, all backgrounds and all income brackets together to un-dam the Klamath River. He took on big government and big business to do something that many thought was impossible – remove four large dams and restore one of America’s greatest salmon fisheries. I know he’s not afraid to take on the big fights and I know his constituents can depend on him to stand and deliver no matter the challenge,” said California’s first elected Native American state legislator, James Ramos, Serrano/Cahuilla. Ramos added, “Representation matters, and electing Native voices into the legislature will allow for greater diversity and perspectives from California’s First People.”

Myers has served as Yurok Vice Chair since 2018. The Yurok tribal government is one of the largest governing bodies in District 2. The Tribe employs approximately 600 local community members and administers nearly 50 departments and programs, including police and fire departments, education, transportation, planning and community development, housing, social services, fisheries, watershed restoration, wildlife, environmental protection, forestry, food security, substance abuse treatment and elder nutrition.

As Vice Chairman, Myers led many of the Tribe’s high-profile initiatives. Myers oversees three Tribal for-profit corporations in commercial construction and river restoration that collectively provide hundreds of living wage jobs. These efforts brought more than a half billion dollars to the region for infrastructure and environmental restoration projects and $61 million to install fiber optic cable connecting Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. The project will provide access to high-speed internet for thousands of residents, create more than 200 local jobs and fortify broadband services in the region.

Other significant achievements include:

• The Yurok Tribe’s California condor reintroduction initiative. In 2022 the Tribe released the first of these sacred birds to fly over the North Coast in more than 100 years;
• Raising national awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis, co-hosting the first annual Northern California Conference on MMIP;
• The 2023 launch of Condor Aviation. The tribally owned company administers a fleet of aircraft equipped with cutting-edge aerial imaging technology serving clients across the nation.

Myers grew up on the Yurok Reservation near Weitchpec in the same village where his ancestors lived since time immemorial. While Myers has served two terms as the Vice Chairman of California’s largest Tribe, his career in politics didn’t start there. “My father, a Vietnam War veteran, mother, aunts and uncles, served on Tribal Council, local school boards and housing commissions. Public service has always been important to my family. This feels like something I have been preparing for my whole life,” Myers said.

Many local tribal leaders celebrated the announcement. Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Joe Davis noted, “I can think of no better way to close out Native American Heritage Month than to see the next generation of tribal leaders step up to represent not only their tribe, but all of the people of the district.”

PREVIOUSLY: Pressured by Upcoming Ballot Measure, County Supervisors Look to Improve Existing Cannabis Regs

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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to scrap its plans to place a county-backed alternative to the controversial Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative (HCRI), also known as Measure A, on the March 2024 ballot, opting instead to “wait and see” how the election unfolds before amending existing county rules.

The county’s proposed ballot measure would have served as a less extreme alternative to Measure A, which seeks to restrict commercial cannabis cultivation across the county through a host of stringent new rules.

At the beginning of this month, the Board of Supervisors asked staff to come up with a competing referendum that would limit the acreage and number of legal cannabis permits in the county by amending the county’s Commercial Cannabis Land Use Ordinance (CCLUO). The decision was sort of a last-ditch effort to address some public concerns about the county’s existing cannabis permitting rules ahead of the upcoming election. 

The proposed ballot initiative, “Humboldt County Limitations on Cannabis Permitting,” sought to lower the cap on the total number of cultivation permits by 60 percent, from 3,500 to 1,400, and reduce allowed acreage from 1,205 to 617. The proposal would have also set a one-acre maximum cultivation area and required additional public noticing for permits over 2,000 square feet.

Speaking during Tuesday’s meeting, Humboldt County Planning and Building Director John Ford noted that there are currently 1,578 permits and applications in the county’s database. A 50 percent reduction in cultivation permits would allow for roughly 1,736 permits and/or applications, he said.

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell asked if the proposed changes to the CCLUO could be made without a ballot measure. Ford said, “Yes.”

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo said she was appreciative of Planning and Building Department staff who put the proposed ballot measure together, but said the majority of the constituents she had spoken with “don’t feel like it is addressing their needs.”

“This was sort of an 11th-hour attempt to put something together that could be an alternative that addresses many folks’ concerns, but I also wanted to acknowledge that up until a month and a half ago, my expectation … was that we were going to see how it went in March and then adjust accordingly,” she said. “We’re all here kind of trying to cobble something together from the input we’ve received, which is all over the map, and it’s not the ideal way to do things.”

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn suggested that the board should do “everything in our power to make sure Measure A doesn’t pass.” 

“My issue with it – and I’m just gonna go ahead and say it – I’m not getting any correspondence from anybody saying it’s the greatest thing since buttered popcorn except for Mark [Thurmond] and Betsy [Watson],” Bohn said, referring to primary proponents of the HCRI. He acknowledged some of the shortcomings of the county’s ordinance but said, “We are trying to fix what we did, and I know that a ballot measure is not the way to do it.”

Speaking during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting, John Casali, co-owner of Huckleberry Hill Farms, said he would oppose an alternative cannabis initiative, in part, because it could send a “conflicting message to voters” and imply that the county’s existing ordinance is flawed. 

Casali | Screenshot

“Putting any kind of restrictions on our small farms right now is really a death sentence, and I’d rather roll the dice on Measure A,” he said. “I believe the voters will do the right thing, and if they don’t it’s really going to be devastating to the whole industry.”

Dylan Mattole, owner of Mattole Valley Sungrown, also felt the proposed ballot measure was a “reactionary response” to Measure A.

“I think that Measure A is an example of when somebody has a personal problem – in this case, two individuals [that have] a problem with an individual, specific neighbor – that they then throw this big response at that affects the entire community,” he continued. “That’s not a good way to enact policy. … I would like to propose that we have a rule that we make no more rules restricting cannabis right now. … We don’t need new rules, we just need to start dealing with what we already have.”

Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA), thanked the Board of Supervisors and county staff for responding to the cannabis community’s concerns but felt the proposal was too complex.

DeLapp | Screenshot

“Measure A is a gun pointed to everyone’s head and we should not be forced to make decisions under duress,” she said. “If you want to give voters a choice, keep it simple. … It feels a little like we’re going off the rails.”

Similarly, Ross Gordon, policy director of the HCGA, said the county had “some good ideas on the table” but felt the proposed ballot measure, as written, would have numerous unintended consequences.

Following public comment, Bushnell thanked staff for their time spent on the referendum but agreed that the whole process felt “a little rushed.” 

“I would also like to thank Director Ford because he pivoted very fast … and I just really want to say thank you for addressing [these] concerns so quickly, I know it’s been a heavy lift for you,” she continued. “I think the issue throughout the communities – and what that initiative was based on signature-wise – now has grown to something a lot larger.”

Bushnell made a motion to withdraw the proposal for the time being. Arroyo seconded the action. 

The motion passed 5-0.

Barring a breakthrough in negotiations, the California State University faculty will go on one-day strikes at four campuses next week as they fight for 12% wage hikes this academic year plus other key concessions — increases that the system of nearly 460,000 students says it cannot afford.

The action would dash hopes of a labor peace between the union of 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors, and coaches on one end and management of the nation’s largest public four-year university system on the other. And it would only be the beginning: If Cal State leadership doesn’t meet faculty demands, union leadership is promising more labor unrest in 2024.

“The decision was made to start on the smaller side…to allow us to give some space to escalate,” said Kevin Wehr, bargaining team chair for the California Faculty Association and a professor at Sacramento State. “We don’t feel the need necessarily to go from zero to 60.”

The planned dates and campuses are:

• Dec. 4, Cal Poly Pomona
• Dec. 5, San Francisco State
• Dec. 6, CSU Los Angeles
• Dec. 7, Sacramento State

The four schools are among the largest in the system and combined enroll around 105,000 students. The labor walkouts are meant to signal to Cal State leadership that the union is capable of quickly organizing its members.

“We’re going to demonstrate to them that we can shut down any campus we want with only a couple of weeks’ notice,” Wehr said, who added the union doesn’t plan to stage any other work stoppages in December.

Cal State officials will hold a virtual press conference Friday to discuss the state of play between the system and the California Faculty Association. Friday will also mark the end of a state labor mediation process that began in August. By then a fact-finding report, written by a third-party labor negotiator, should become public, shedding more light on why the two sides are at loggerheads.

Last month 95% of faculty members who voted approved a resolution granting union leaders the ability to call for a strike. The union refused to say what percentage of its membership took part in that vote. In response, a Cal State spokesperson told CalMatters then that it “remains committed to the collective bargaining process and reaching a negotiated agreement with the (faculty union) as we have done with five of our other employee unions in recent weeks.”

In the past month, Cal State has come to agreements with five other unions representing around 30,000 non-academic staff. The labor deals ensured that Cal State wouldn’t contend with all its unionized workers striking, which would have been calamitous for the system. A smaller union of about 1,100 workers in the trades went on strike for one day this month.

Cal State lacks revenue

Cal State has grappled with what it says are insufficient revenues to properly educate its students. In May, officials said the system needs to generate at least $1.5 billion more annually to provide students the academic, cultural and supportive services they need.

That report triggered a multi-month discussion about upping revenue, culminating with the system’s board of trustees approving tuition hikes of 6% for each of the next five years, starting next fall. But even those hikes aren’t enough to fully fund the system, Cal State officials said. The faculty union and student groups bitterly opposed those hikes. The union also released an accounting study last month that argued Cal State can tap more of its reserves to cover academic expenses, such as faculty pay.

The impasse over finances and tuition played out in the same year Cal State’s new chancellor received a nearly $800,000 base salary — 66% more than what a predecessor earned in 2020. Last year several campus presidents received raises of as much as 29% after a system report said many were underpaid.

In its most recent offer on Monday, Cal State leaders proposed to the faculty union 5% raises this year and two years of subsequent 5% raises between 2024-25 and 2025-26. On paper that adds up to 15% across three years, above the 12% faculty seek in 2023-24.

‘Lack of trust’

But those future hikes are contingent on the system receiving funding that Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised Cal State for the next three years as part of his five-year compact of 5% annual increases. These are promised, but not guaranteed, jumps in state support in exchange for improvements in graduation rates and other academic advances. Newsom and the Legislature approved the 5% increases in state aid to Cal State — and the University of California — in each of the last two years, despite facing a multi-billion deficit in June.

Still, the union doesn’t want to take a deal that is at the mercy of a state budget negotiation process between the governor and lawmakers. Labor leaders feel spurned already; in 2022, they expected Cal State to receive enough state support for faculty to get 4% raises. Instead, the system lawmakers and the governor provided the system enough to approve 3% salary bumps.

“There’s a definite lack of trust with any budget contingency language now,” Wehr said.

The union is also hesitant to accept any multi-year deal now because of a technicality in its contract with Cal State. Right now, the two sides are able to negotiate on just the salary portion of the collective bargaining agreement and several benefits provisions. The full contract expires June 30, 2024, meaning that the union cannot negotiate on other details that will only become fair game to discuss next summer.

“The decision was made to start on the smaller side…to allow us to give some space to escalate.”
— Kevin Wehr, bargaining team chair for the California Faculty Association and a professor at Sacramento State

Agreeing to a multi-year contract now overrides that expiration date and locks into place any matter the two sides haven’t yet discussed. Wehr said the union would in effect need to agree to a whole new contract now to approve a full multi-year deal.

“Management must think that faculty can’t do math,” a faculty union letter to its members said. “Management claims their latest salary offer as ‘15 percent over three years’ (even they acknowledge that is not guaranteed). We are demanding a 12-percent General Salary Increase for just 2023-24 to keep pace with rising costs of living. We will fight for more when the full contract opens next year. The three-year nature of management’s proposal would mean that we cannot bargain over other workplace issues for three years!”

Beyond the wage increases of 12% for all faculty, the union seeks to lift pay for the lowest-paid instructors, expand parental leave, provide lactation rooms for new parents and more.

Cal State would need to give the faculty union a deal that matches, or comes close, to its demands to end the wave of strikes, Wehr said.” If they come at us with seven (percent), I don’t think faculty would accept that,” he said. “It would have to be 12% or very close to it.”

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