In a big win for CSU Teamsters Skilled Trades workers, the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) rejected CSU’s attempt to avoid its obligation to bargain through an illegal declaration of “impasse.” On Friday, Sept. 8, CSU illegally canceled bargaining sessions previously scheduled for this week and filed the impasse request to PERB. Teamsters opposed CSU’s request, arguing that the parties are not at impasse, and demanded that CSU return to the table and bargain in good faith for a fair contract. The Teamsters also filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge regarding CSU’s illegal conduct. PERB agreed with Teamsters and denied the CSU’s request for impasse.
Under California labor law, impasse occurs when the employer and the Union have exhausted the good-faith bargaining process and further negotiations would be futile. Upon certification of impasse, regular bargaining ceases and the parties move to mediation and then fact-finding. Local 2010 Secretary-Treasurer Jason Rabinowitz opposed impasse on the grounds that CSU has failed to provide a salary proposal in response to the Union’s latest offer, because multiple contract articles are still being discussed between the parties, and because the CSU has committed numerous unfair labor practices. Now the CSU will be required to return to the bargaining table. Our next scheduled bargaining session is September 26-27.
“CSU’s bad faith bargaining and mistreatment of the workers who keep the University running is outrageous,” Rabinowitz said. “CSU needs to stop playing games, get back to the table and bargain in good faith with the Teamsters. Teamsters and all our sister Unions representing 60,000 CSU workers are united and ready to do whatever it takes to win the fair contracts we deserve.”
500 CSU Faculty, Staff & Students Rally for Fair Wages & No Tuition Increases
150 Teamsters along with our sister CSU Unions, together representing over 60,000 CSU workers, ratcheted up the pressure against the CSU on Tuesday, Sept. 12 outside of the Board of Trustees meeting. With so many people in line to address the board regarding proposed tuition increases and fair wages and raises for workers, the public comment period extended more than two hours.
Teamsters and our sister Unions won’t stand for CSU’s unfair labor practices and are ready to do whatever it takes – up to and including a strike – to win the fair treatment we deserve.