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Cal State to give skilled workers their raise following 4-day strike

Author

Carly Heltzel
March 13, 2026

Good morning. It’s Friday, and I’m reading a timeline of the history of St. Fratty’s at Cal Poly. Onto the five Cal Poly, SLO and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Cal State signaled it would now honor the raises for its skilled workers, following their four-day strike. Before, the Cal State chancellor said the state’s budget didn’t meet the conditions specified in the skilled workers’ contracts to warrant the raise they were promised. Cal State argued that the loan it got from the state to make up for its 3% base budget cut didn’t count as ongoing funding. Now, Cal State is getting a 5% budget bump and ran out of excuses. 

2.

Starting at 4 p.m. today, bike, bus and walking routes will be shifted throughout northern SLO to shut down the potential of any St. Fratty’s street party tomorrow. The entire neighborhood surrounding Hathaway Avenue will be shut down to all non-residents, with police checking leases to make sure residents really live there. Portions of California Blvd will be shut down, including the bike path and sidewalk from the Highway 101 entrance to exit. Bus routes won’t go through campus.

3.

Roughly 37% of non-organic California produce is contaminated with “forever chemicals,” a study showed. The chemicals reach the produce through pesticides, and they don’t easily break down in your body — “forever chemicals” have been linked to cancer and reproductive issues. Stone fruits were the worst offenders with 90% of samples showing the chemicals. “It’s very hard to assume that it’s safe to eat the amounts that we’re finding,” one expert said. 

4.

In 2023, California passed a law that would have allowed lawmakers to cap the profits of oil companies during surge in gas prices like the one we’re in now. But shortly after “California took on Big Oil and won,” (according to Gov. Gavin Newsom) a committee delayed the start date of the law by five years hoping to not punish or drive out in-state oil refineries. Consumers are feeling the brunt of that decision now.

5.

Linnaea’s Cafe is opening a kiosk on Mission Plaza called “Slodega” as a part of the space’s ongoing renovations. Slodega will mimic a New York bodega with a news stand out front and typical foods like a bacon, egg and cheese bagel offered at the counter. The kiosk will have tables out front and a grassy area for people to lounge while they sip their coffee — maybe even with some live acoustic music. While there’s no opening date yet, they’re aiming for mid summer.