Greetings CSU Teamsters,
In the face of our national crisis, the 1.4 Million Teamsters across the country have been working tirelessly performing essential services keeping America safe, the stores filled with food, and public services running. Our 14,000 Local 2010 Teamsters throughout higher education, including 1,100 skilled trades workers throughout the CSU system, are providing critical services through this crisis.
Meanwhile, our Union is working day and night to make sure that our workplaces are safe, and that our jobs and income are protected. Already, we’ve won three weeks of paid leave for those who can’t work due to illness or child care obligations, and we are continuing to fight for the extension of this program so no one will lose pay or benefits due to COVID-19.
Just today, after filing numerous grievances and pressing the issue daily with CSU, we have won the right for those of us called in to work during this crisis to receive emergency pay, retroactive to March 20, 2020. Click here to view the letter.
We are in daily contact with top leadership at CSU, to enforce our members’ rights and safety. And we are making this message heard loud and clear: CSU must prevent layoffs or any loss of pay for our members who are unable to work due to COVID-19 for the duration of this crisis.
Yesterday, we carried that message to the CSU Board of Trustees meeting, as Skilled Trades Director Drew Scott, Bargaining Team members Matt Mason, Chris Rooney, Robert Olsen, Cal Mason, and I addressed the Trustees, urging CSU to protect worker safety, pay and benefits during this crisis. You can read the full text of my speech by clicking here.
We have received many inspiring messages of thanks from members, and one, from Diana Lopez at UCLA, said it more eloquently than I can: “Thank you so much for such quick action on taking care of our members at this time of uncertainty. This is making Teamster history, something that won’t be forgotten! TEAMSTERS don’t fear COVID-19. We’ll beat this!”
In Unity,
Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer
P.S. Click here to access the Teamsters’ comprehensive online UC COVID-19 information.