95% of San Mateo Community College faculty VOTE YES in strike vote following months of stalled negotiations
First strike vote in union’s history comes as district takes a hard line at the bargaining table
San Mateo, CA – This morning, the San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers, AFT 1493, announced that an overwhelming 95% of its members voted to authorize a strike. This vote comes after faculty have endured months of unproductive negotiations since their contract expired in July 2025. Over the course of 21 bargaining and three mediation sessions held since February 2025, the District has refused to provide fair pay and to meaningfully address rising healthcare costs and workload disparities—despite being one of the wealthiest college systems in the state. Faculty are demanding fair treatment and a resolution that reflects the dedication and value they bring to the institution and its students.
In addition to concerns about salary and benefits, faculty are advocating for reasonable class sizes, protections for academic freedom, and equal pay for equal work—key priorities the union believes are essential to building a strong, stable, and sustainable workforce. These measures are crucial to ensuring faculty have the resources and support needed to deliver high-quality education and uphold the mission of public higher education.
The District’s refusal to negotiate on academic freedom—a no-cost proposal—has deeply disappointed faculty. Faculty know that securing academic freedom in the contract is critical to defending public higher education as a place for free thinking and critical inquiry. Without this protection, the fundamental mission of higher education is at risk.
According to AFT 1493 President Rika Yonemura-Fabian, the overwhelming strike vote is a direct result of the administration being unwilling to invest in faculty and the students they serve.
“Our faculty are dedicated to our students and their success, but the cost of living has continued to outpace our ability to maintain the jobs we love. High rent, long commutes, and rising costs are all spiraling out of control and directly impacting our ability to provide our students the education they deserve. The administration can afford our demands, but has chosen to take a hard line stance.”
Julie Lind, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the San Mateo County Central Labor Council, expressed the labor movement’s solidarity with the faculty and their commitment to a fair resolution.
“San Mateo County Community College District faculty are dedicated professionals who make our colleges work and ensure people across our community have access to the education and training they need to succeed,” said Lind. “They deserve a fair contract that recognizes the value of their labor. The 105 affiliated unions and over 95,000 workers and their families represented by the San Mateo Labor Council stand with our AFT 1493 siblings, and we remain hopeful that through good-faith bargaining the faculty and the district can reach an agreement that strengthens our colleges and all whom they serve.”
Angelique Nelson, a College of San Mateo student speaking on behalf of the CSM Democrats, expressed strong student support for faculty: “Faculty play a critical role in shaping the academic experience and success of students. As students who benefit directly from their mentorship, dedication, and advocacy, we believe that educators deserve fair working conditions, respect, and a contract that reflects the value of their work.”
Last week after mediation efforts ended, the District broadcast an unreasonable public offer to the union that did not even extend AFT 1493 the same pay increases it offered other unions in the District. Furthermore, the District’s offer failed to make any meaningful concessions on critical issues, including reasonable class sizes, equal pay for equal work, and the no-cost proposal on academic freedom. With negotiations at an impasse, the process now moves to fact-finding, where a neutral third party will issue a non-binding report recommending a settlement. Once the fact-finding process is complete and the report is released, if no settlement is reached, the union will be legally authorized to call a strike.
Union leaders call on the District administration to change course and negotiate a fair settlement that supports both faculty and students. AFT 1493 remains firmly committed to preparing for a strike if the District fails to address these critical issues.
The San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers, AFT 1493, represents over 850 faculty throughout the three-campus San Mateo Community College District. They are the local affiliate of the California Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers.