CSU passed its fourth salary proposal during our latest bargaining session Sept. 4, making very small movement from their last proposal by adding a 0.8% salary structure adjustment (SSA) to its proposal for 2026-27. They also shifted the effective date for their previously proposed 2027-28 SSA and step increase from October 1, 2027, to July 1, 2027.
CSU claimed this minimal 0.8% SSA proposal for 2026-27 is meant to make the CSU’s total compensation pool 4% between the SSA, step increase, and moving all remaining Unit 6 employees to their target step based on years of cumulative service in their current classification. CSU continued to refuse to bargain regarding the July 2025 contractual raises that it has refused to pay, continuing to insist on only a one-time, non base-building, non-pensionable lump sum.
CSU’s Lowball Salary Proposal
2025/26
- Refuse to pay July 2025 contractual raises
- Continue to insist on one-time, non-basebuilding 3% lump sum
Current Year (2026/27):
- Total average 4% wage increase, including:
- 0.8% SSA
- All remaining Unit 6 to Target Step (1.3% overall cost)
- One 2% Step Progression, dependent on performance evaluation (1.9% overall cost since those at top of range wouldn’t receive step)
- Increases effective following ratification, meaning the longer it takes to reach a fair deal, the more money we lose.
2027/28:
- Total ~2.8% average wage increase, including:
- 1% SSA
- One 2% Step Progression, dependent on performance evaluation (1.8% overall since those at top of range wouldn’t receive step)
- Effective July 2027
- Not contingent on budget
2028/29:
- Reopener, no guaranteed raises
While this does represent movement and additional money in needed raises on the table, it is far from where we need to be. Our Bargaining Team took issue with CSU proposing a less than 1% SSA to arbitrarily make their proposed first year raises add up to a certain percentage instead of making proposals that would bring Unit 6 raises high enough to address the high cost of living across California. CSU also continued to propose various takeaways in the salary and benefits articles, including the elimination of our existing emergency pay language.
CSU’s only other proposal was on Article 25 – Benefits, where they made movement on the language establishing a work group on benefits costs but continued to propose a benefits reopener clearly intended to shift more of the burden of healthcare costs onto our members, which we will not stand for. They also continued to propose taking away our longstanding healthcare supplements while rejecting our proposals to add life insurance and rural health/dental stipends. Our Bargaining Team will continue to reject these needless and disrespectful takeaways.
“CSU’s very small movement on salary and continued refusal to pay our raises from July 2025 show bad faith and disrespect for the skilled workers who keep the University running. Teamsters will continue to fight on every front to win the fair contract and raises we deserve!”
Jason Rabinowitz
Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 2010
Our Bargaining Team responded with far more proposals than the CSU provided. We matched CSU’s minimal movement on the salary and benefits articles while continuing to reject all takeaways. Our team modified our prior proposal on Article 1 – Recognition and paired it with a proposal on Appendix C – Salary Schedule to address salary grade issues for classifications including Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Mechanics, the Locksmith series, and others.
For non-economic articles, our Bargaining Team passed proposals on Article 9 – Grievance Procedure and Article 10 – Appointment, that made movement while maintaining key proposals given CSU’s near complete rejection of our proposed changes in both articles. On Article 18 – Leaves of Absence with Pay, we restated our prior proposal given that it aims to update the language to comply with current law around leaves. Our team rejected CSU’s proposed removal of language in Article 30 – Layoff that prevents the CSU from increasing student work hours in the unit when there are layoffs at a campus and instead proposed current contract language.
Our next bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 17. CSU now owes responses on many articles, including key economic articles on salary, benefits, overtime, and hours of work. Join us in continuing to take action to ensure a fair successor contract and payment of our July 2025!
Teamsters: We’ll be rallying outside the Board of Trustees meeting on Sep. 22 in Long Beach. Email your Union Rep to participate!
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
