Union petitions CSU for wage increase
By Kiara Craig, February 24, 2026
Teamster Union members across all 22 California State University schools participated in a strike Feb. 17 through Feb. 20 to bring attention to the unfulfilled wage increase planned for July 2025.
The picket line at Cal Poly Pomona was located at the Kellogg Drive and Red Gum Lane intersection, intended to delay traffic, according to the strike FAQ page on Cal Poly Pomona’s website. The protesters consisted of members of Teamsters Local 2010, 33 teamster members from CPP’s facility and housing, students and faculty participated in the protest.
“Us not being here working causes them to realize the significance of what we do here as far as the trades,” said Andrew Serrano, chief steward for Teamsters Local 2010. “The Teamsters are an umbrella of all the trades here on campus: the maintenance jobs, contracts, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, mechanics, painters, all the trades that are the backbone of universities, making sure all the facilities are kept up.”
Serrano and other participants walked across the intersection with signs, despite rainfall from the recent winter storms that passed through Southern California. Chants were heard demanding contracts from the CSU.
A strike in January 2024 led by the Teamsters ended early, as a tentative agreement was reached with promised establishment of a salary step system. The CSU was expected to provide wage increase within this step system by July 1, 2025, dependent on California’s final Budget Act of 2025.
The Budget Act of 2025 outlines the appropriations from the state government during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to CalMatters.
If the Budget Act of 2025 was $480 million above the Budget Act of 2023, the wage increases would be fulfilled. Otherwise, it would reopen negotiation. The CSU asserted the Budget Act of 2025 did not provide the appropriations required to fund the wage increase June 30, 2025, and negotiations were reopened, according to the Teamster’s unfair practice charge.
In preparation for negotiation, the Teamsters requested information on any documents the CSU used to determine an inability to provide the wage increase and the funding source for the CSU’s $17 million contract with OpenAI. These documents were not provided, as the CSU deemed the request to be “overbroad, vague and ambiguous,” according to the Teamster’s unfair practice charge.
Along with chants led by Teamster Local 2010 members through the megaphone, members of the strike handed out flyers to inform passersby on the reasons for the strike. The flyer also contained a scannable code linked to a petition page viewers could digitally sign and an email script directed at the CSU chancellor and board of trustees. | Brandon Bocanegra | The Poly Post
In negotiation, the CSU proposed a lump-sum payment of 3%, instead of the base-building wage increase, and removal of the union’s unfair labor practice charge. The union counter-proposed a retroactive payment of the July 1 wage increase with penalty payments. The CSU denied this counter and provided no counteroffer, according to the Teamster’s unfair practice charge. This led to the decision to go on the four-day strike.
The CSU released a statement on the first day of the strike, claiming the Teamsters have pushed false claims for the basis of the strike. The CSU’s message urged the Teamsters to rejoin negotiations and return to bargaining.
In solidarity with the strike, members of the California Faculty Association made appearances. Though this strike is not a CFA contract, some faculty members elected to join the picket line between classes or during office hours.
“I have to say back then when we struck, it was a huge strike, and we had some big wins,” said Rachel Blakey, assistant professor of global change biology and CFA member. “The heart and soul for me of the strike was actually the Teamster support. When they showed up, that’s when you really felt like we’re going to win.”
CPP students received an email addressing the strike Feb. 10. Some students honked horns or joined the picket line to show support for the strike. Others showed concern online about interference with classes.
“I just found out it’s teachers and maintenance workers who are out here protesting for better pay,” said marketing student Leo Delavera. “I just want to say that living on campus, I see maintenance workers working extremely hard, I see teachers working extremely hard, I can see how stressed they looked. I think the fact they haven’t got a raise in years is honestly offensive. I respect the protest.”
Feature image courtesy of Brandon Bocanegra
