Marisa Endicott - Press Democrat
Feb 18, 2026
Skilled trade workers at Sonoma State University picketed for a second day through rain and hail Wednesday as part of a four-day strike at campuses across the California State University system by the Teamsters Local 2010.
The action that started Tuesday and runs through Friday is the latest escalation in a dispute over whether the school system can back out of agreed upon raises. Salary increases decided as part of the teamsters last contract include a contingency tied to CSU receiving full funding from the state.
The university system faced steep state budget cuts last year, but much of the funding was preserved. With the addition of an interest-free loan that bridged the remaining gap, the union argues the CSU got what it needed to follow through on its commitments to workers.
CSU, which is battling financial crises at several campuses, including SSU, said that the one-time state loan, which must be repaid, does not meet the ongoing funding threshold required for the salary provisions in question.
Teamsters 2010 represent 1,100 CSU employees – electricians, plumbers, mechanics, carpenters – including about 30 workers at Sonoma State.
The Sonoma contingent hasn’t been deterred by the stormy weather, said HVAC engineer Kelley Greene, a 13-year SSU employee. “We’ve marched and we’ve hollered and passed out flyers.”
Some members have showed up as early as 5 a.m. with the rest joining a couple hours later and staying until 1:30 or 2 p.m. On Tuesday, some people from the faculty union joined them for a while.
Union and CSU representatives are meanwhile negotiating, and Greene said they’re not sure what will happen if a deal is not reached by the end of the strike Friday. In the meantime, they’ll continue to show up. “If yesterday’s weather didn’t drive us indoors,” Greene said, “nothing else is gonna.”