In our latest bargaining session on August 19, CSU finally responded to our comprehensive salary and benefits proposal. In a positive step, the CSU did remove the budget contingency language from their proposed 2027/28 raises in response to our team making clear our members will not accept any contingency language that could deprive them of promised raises. Disappointingly, this was all the movement CSU managed to make in this salary proposal and it put no additional raises on the table. Our chief negotiator, Teamsters 2010 Secretary-Treasurer Jason Rabinowitz, made clear that while we appreciate the movement away from unacceptable contingency language, we expect the CSU to make movement on the raises and put additional money on the table.
“As the CSU continues to be unfair and disrespectful to workers, our Union is turning up the heat with coordinated statewide actions. CSU will have no peace until they bargain in good faith with the Teamsters for the fair contract and raises that we deserve!”
Jason Rabinowitz
Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 2010
It’s clear that CSU intends to unnecessarily drag out the bargaining process, so we need to keep up the pressure to ensure that they put fair raises on the table. CSU’s salary and benefits proposal package continues to lowball our essential work while proposing takeaways on emergency pay, health benefits supplements, and other areas.
CSU’s Lowball Salary Proposal
Current Year (2026/27):
- Total 3.2% wage increase
- All remaining Unit 6 to Target Step (1.4% overall increase)
- One 2% Step Progression, dependent on performance evaluation (1.8% overall since those at top of range wouldn’t receive step)
- Effective following ratification, meaning we would lose out on raises the longer it takes to reach a fair deal
2027/28:
- Total ~2.8% wage increase
- 1% SSA
- One 2% Step Progression, dependent on performance evaluation (1.8% overall since those at top of range wouldn’t receive step)
- Effective in October 2027, meaning 3 months of missed raises vs. if in effect in July
2028/29:
- Reopener, no guaranteed raises
Our Unit 6 Bargaining Team responded with small movement in the salary and benefits articles to keep the process moving, while continuing to reject all of CSU’s takeaways and demanding fair raises. We maintained prior proposals for improved stipends/bonuses, protecting emergency pay, a fair process for requesting additional step progression, and adding life insurance and rural health/dental stipends to the benefits article. Our next bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 4.
Keeping the heat on CSU 🔥
As negotiations continue and members take part in actions across the state, our Union is keeping the pressure on in the media and in Sacramento. AB 1818, our Teamsters-sponsored bill to stop the CSU from breaking Union contracts, passed out of the Legislature last week and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk! Teamsters actions have featured prominently in news across the state, with coverage on KNBC, Telemundo, Fox 11, and KQED!
Now is the time to take action as we press CSU for movement on their salary proposals and demand that CSU pay our contractual July 2025 raises.
Rallies are coming up across the state as we fight for fair pay and real respect. Mark you calendar now!
CSU passed one other proposal on Article 18 – Leaves of Absence with Pay. In it, CSU agreed to add the ability of an employee to designate one person for whom they can take sick leave to care for in accordance with existing law. And CSU continues to needlessly propose increasing their ability to request documentation after an employee returns from bereavement leave. Our team will evaluate this proposal and respond accordingly.
In addition to countering CSU’s salary and benefits proposals, our Teamsters team also passed a proposal on Appendix D-4 – Implementation for Critical Skills Bonus Plan that increases the bonus in line with our salary article proposal. We also passed our second proposal on Article 20 – Assignment/Reassignment, where we continue to propose improvements in the language on notice for temporary higher classification assignments and reclassifications.
Our Bargaining Team and the CSU also met Aug. 18 with a mediator regarding CSU’s failure to bargain in good faith over salary increases for future years of our next contract. The dispute was not resolved and another mediation sessions was scheduled.
We need to keep up our actions across the state to send the message that we will not accept lowball proposals and unfair treatment. Thank you to all of our members who have been and will take action in support of our contract campaign. Your efforts are what give us the power to pressure and win against the CSU. If you have not already, visit our action page here to support our fight for fairness at CSU.
In Solidarity,
Our Teamsters CSU Bargaining Team
Chief Negotiator Jason Rabinowitz, Local 2010 Secretary-Treasurer
Ernesto Torres, CSU San Bernardino, Local 2010 Vice President and Skilled Trades Director
Christopher Rooney, CSU Northridge
Carlos Sanchez, CSU San Diego
Deborah Elia, CSU San Francisco
Jared Pecot, CSU San Luis Obispo
Steve Phillips, CSU Fullerton
Alex Vermie, Local 2010 Research Analyst
