Nearly 200 University of San Diego faculty members will strike Wednesday to protest what they say are mass course cancellations and union busting by USD.
The union faculty members from USD’s College of Arts and Sciences said in a statement that the university cut courses in the current spring semester without bargaining over the effects.
Soroya Rowley, a USD theatre lecturer, said the cuts felt like “a slap in the face.”
The union faculty members with Service Employees International Union Local 721 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in April in response to the cuts.
The strike comes amid concerns that the university is considering mass course cuts in arts and sciences for the upcoming fall semester.
Around 25% of non-tenure track faculty members who taught in fall 2024 are not currently listed for classes in fall 2025, according to a union review of the university course schedule.
“We see it as punishing us for forming a union last year,” Rowley said.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Noelle Norton notified faculty and staff by email about the planned strike, saying these are “difficult times” for higher education.
“Given the importance of ensuring that students are able to complete their courses, we hope that faculty, including those represented by the Union, will continue teaching their students,” Norton said in the email.
The university also issued a public statement, saying, “The timing of the NTT strike, at the end of the semester and on the eve of final exams for many students, is disappointing and unfortunate. While USD respects employees’ rights to free speech and assembly, the university also has a responsibility to ensure students can complete coursework and maintain their academic standing, especially those who are graduating soon or have scholarships or other visa requirements.”
USD also said it had negotiated in good faith, and seeks a mutually acceptable agreement, but warned that the union’s demands “would equate to a substantial undergraduate tuition increase.”
The union encouraged participating faculty to avoid holding or joining classes, offices hours, or meetings, as well as sending emails, grading, or preparing for courses.
The strike will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the campus entrance at Linda Vista Road and Alcala Park Way and will last until 9 p.m. Thursday.
The strike will be followed by a rally at noon with colleagues, students, alumni, and community supporters who will march to the President’s Office.
Norton said in her message that the campus will remain open and class instruction will continue for faculty who are not striking.
Updated at 6 p.m. to include additional information from the university.
