Membership Highlights!

This installment of Member Highlights has us meeting two new people: one a brand new member to the Sacramento Chapter’s Executive Committee, and the other member who has long believed in the power of union membership. Meet Jasmine and Bita! 

As you read, think about your story. Why are you involved with the union?

Meet Jasmine!

Hello everyone! My name is Jasmine Ali, and I’m a faculty member in the School of Social Work and a proud CFA union member.

A couple of years ago, I lost my health insurance with only two weeks’ notice when my refugee mental health program was unexpectedly cut at a nonprofit. Thankfully, I had also been working here at Sac State as a lecturer, and I knew I could apply for health coverage through the university that fall.

For many, this might’ve been a stressful inconvenience. But for me—someone living with an autoimmune disorder who depends on daily medication to function—it was terrifying. Health insurance is not optional for my survival; it’s as essential as having a roof over my head.

I wasn’t sure what kind of coverage Sac State offered, but when I enrolled, I was stunned. My health insurance was essentially free, and for a very small out-of-pocket cost, I was able to cover my entire household of five. That winter, I contracted RSV and was put on bed rest for nearly seven weeks. My doctor told me plainly: rest, or risk your life.

Thanks to the protections secured by our union, I didn’t have to choose between my health and my job. My leave was protected, my medical care was covered, and I was able to access the treatment I needed without long waits or subpar coverage.

I’m here today because of that support—from Sac State, and from our union. That’s why I speak out and stay involved. Because the union makes sure that all of us—regardless of title, hours, or personal health—are protected, respected, and cared for.

Thank you for listening. And remember: our union is for all of us.

Meet Bita!

I started my academic career as a full-time instructor at a university in Colorado, where unionizing wasn’t an option. That experience shaped me. I saw how much faculty give—time, care, and expertise—without having a real voice in decisions that affect our work and our students. When I arrived at CSUS and learned about the California Faculty Association, joining was an easy yes. I didn’t hesitate; I wanted to be part of a community that stands up for fair workloads, academic freedom, and the supports students and faculty need to thrive.

Not long after, I learned about judicial changes that eliminated requirements to join or pay fees, even as the union continued to represent and protect all faculty. That reality was disheartening—because it’s clear to me that strong unions don’t just appear; they’re built by members who show up. Still, it reinforced why I joined: solidarity is a choice we make, not a benefit we passively receive.

Early on, I volunteered where I could. Now, given the challenges faculty are facing—attacks on expertise, shrinking support, and increasing demands—I’m ready to take a larger role. 

For me, union work is about dignity and shared governance, but also about student success. When faculty have reasonable class sizes, stable appointments, and time to advise and mentor, students benefit. 

My union story is simple: I joined because I believe our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. I’m staying—and stepping up—because the stakes for public higher education, and for the people we serve, have never been higher.

BIta Rivas, Counselor Education, College of Education
Do you have a union story you want to share? Reach out and let us know!

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