Faculty union retracts support for petition demanding resignation of Fresno State president

The California Faculty Association has retracted its endorsement of a petition demanding the resignation of Fresno State president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, an action it took last week along with the California State University Employees Union.

Andrew Jones, president of the Fresno State chapter of the CFA, said in an email sent to union members and the university administration on Monday that he had endorsed the petition without consulting with the union’s executive board or membership, and apologized to ASI (Associated Students, Inc.) and students for not consulting with them before the CSUEU sent it to members accompanied by a CFA logo.

“I felt we needed to show solidarity and support our sibling union, given they were going ahead with the petition,” Jones said, in the email. “In hindsight, this was a serious mistake, and I take full responsibility for it.”

The CSUEU is standing by its position, citing poor management and stewardship of the university by Jiménez-Sandoval, who has been president of the university since 2021.

Jiménez-Sandoval met with campus leadership of the two unions on Friday afternoon, the day after the CSUEU sent the petition to its membership. The CFA was to send the petition out as well on Thursday, but did not.

“As president of CFA Fresno State, I formally retract CFA’s support for the petition that Fresno State’s CSUEU created, and its members received,” Jones said, in the email. “I also apologize that the petition gave the impression it had been endorsed by our CFA chapter executive board, which is not the case. On behalf of CFA, I apologize to the students, our members, the executive board, the president, and the campus community.

“I acknowledge the disappointment this has caused to our campus community and our members. Moving forward, both the CFA Executive Board and I are committed to ensuring greater transparency and stronger communication, so that all membership voices are heard and respected. We are here to serve you and to work towards rebuilding the trust and collaboration that is so vital to our community.”