Skilled trades workers at 22 Cal State University campuses plan to hold an unfair labor practice strike Tuesday, Nov. 14, claiming their wages fall far below that of UC employees who do the same work.
The announcement follows a vote by 94% of union members last month to authorize a walkout.
Teamsters Local 2010, which represents 1,100 workers in the Cal State system, said the university has exhibited bad faith bargaining amid stalled labor negotiations.
Jason Rabinowitz, the union’s secretary-treasurer, said CSU management has interfered with its members’ rights to engage in union activity by changing work rules, removing Teamster signs and materials from break rooms and threatening retaliation for participating in a strike.
“Our members have had enough and are taking to the picket line,” he said. “We don’t want to strike, but they are not bargaining with us.”
Locally, the walkout will affect CSU campuses in Northridge, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pomona, Camarillo and San Bernardino.
In a statement issued Monday, CSU said it doesn’t believe the Teamsters’ planned strike is lawful.
“Should a strike take place, all CSU universities will remain open and have contingency plans in place to maintain full university operations with as minimal disruption as possible for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to our campuses,” officials said.
The workers — including plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, auto mechanics and locksmiths, among others — perform myriad jobs across the university system related to school facilities such as student housing, classrooms and sports venues.
Their labor contract expired June 30, and CSU management has declined to participate in further negotiations, Rabinowitz said.
“A state mediator was brought in on Oct. 31 to help resolve the dispute, but nothing came of that,” he said. “They are not bargaining in good faith.”
