Teamsters workers to start four-day strike at Sonoma State and other CSU campuses

Skilled trade workers across California State University campuses were set to start a four-day strike Tuesday, ratcheting up a dispute over whether the school system can back out of agreed upon raises.

Teamsters Local 2010 represents 1,100 CSU employees – electricians, plumbers, mechanics, carpenters – including about 30 workers at Sonoma State University.

“We’re one of the smaller shops,” said HVAC engineer Kelley Greene, who’s been at SSU 13 years, but “we handle everything – the things no one notices until they’re not there.”

Greene and his colleagues will be out picketing on campus first thing Tuesday morning.

The union has accused CSU of unfair labor practices and reneging on hard-fought contract provisions. In 2024, the teamsters secured a three-year contract that included a 5% raise and, for the first time in decades, step increases, meant to ensure salaries of long-serving workers don’t fall behind new hires.

But, according to the agreement, raises are contingent on CSU receiving full state funding. Citing ongoing budget constraints, CSU offered one-time raises instead.

Last year, CSU was staring down the barrel of steep state budget cuts. Through months of talks with legislators and advocacy by CSU top brass, but also the university system’s unions, much of that funding was preserved. With the addition of an interest-free $144 million loan from the state meant to bridge the remaining gap and help cover salary expenses, the teamsters argue CSU has what it needs.

“Teamsters absolutely stepped up for the CSU to lobby the governor’s office for our funds. That was no problem. A rising tide should lift all ships,” Greene said. Now, “do what you said you were going to do with the money you were hoping to get, which you did actually get. Simple apparently isn’t simple enough.”

“The fact is that contingent language was not met,” CSU spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith said in written responses to questions.

Salary provisions depended “expressly” on “the CSU receiving a defined level of new, ongoing state funding” of approximately $250 million. Instead, she said, “the state budget enacted reduced CSU’s ongoing base by $143.8 million.” The no-interest loan in the same amount “is not ongoing and must be repaid. Because the loan is not permanent, it cannot be used to support ongoing salary increases.”

In its official statement on the strike, CSU said: “We are bargaining in good faith with Teamsters Local 2010 and remain committed to continuing negotiations in an effort to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.”

CSU has been navigating fiscal crises at some of its 22 campuses – none worse than at Sonoma State, which is charting its way back from the brink after leadership announced unprecedented budget cuts and program closures to address a $24 million budget deficit.

The Rohnert Park campus ultimately received a $90 million infusion of rescue funds but has been held up as a proverbial canary in the coal mine as the university system grapples with how to weather enrollment declines and other challenges across the higher education landscape. In November, Cal State leaders said $760 million in reserves would only cover 32 days of expenses systemwide, far below rainy-day fund targets.

But, faculty and staff have long criticized CSU’s spending priorities, accusing the system of raising tuition and executive pay while cutting back on instructional and campus support. In challenging Cal State’s decision to pull back on raises, Teamsters pointed to raises for university presidents, approved by the CSU Board of Trustees in November, that push their base salaries to nearly $500,000, or higher in some cases. In January, trustees approved additional pay bumps for vice chancellors.

“If they were in absolutely dire straights, and everyone had to tighten our belts that might be OK. In the past, we were willing to work with them to help get where we need to be, but they’ve got the cash. Share the wealth,” Greene said. “Is it a betrayal? Yes. Is it business as usual? Also yes.”

“Executive compensation within our system has fallen significantly behind comparable public university systems nationwide,” Bentley-Smith said in response. CSU has provided approximately 17% cumulative general salary increases for staff and faculty over four years, totaling more than $770 million, she said. “During that same period, executives received no general wage increases in 2021, 2023, or 2024, and only a single 7% increase in 2022.”

But, on the ground, Greene said, staff has had to do more with less. When he arrived on campus over a decade ago, he was part of a 13-person crew. It’s been a seven-person crew for the past four years. “None of the buildings have disappeared. None of the work has gone away. We’ve just had to hustle more,” he said.

Some of his colleagues work side jobs on top of their full-time work at SSU to support their families, and fair and adequate pay is necessary to attract and keep employees at the staff level, too, Greene said.

Bentley-Smith said CSU “strives to be an employer of choice, becoming a premier employer for higher education faculty, administration, and staff.” She said Cal State conducted an executive compensation study last year, and this year will be conducting another for faculty and staff.

“California State University’s skilled trade workers are integral to the success of our college campuses,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, who spearheaded talks last year that led to funding restoration for CSU campuses, including the one-time windfall at his alma mater Sonoma State. “From electricians and plumbers to mechanics and carpenters, these dedicated professionals keep our campuses safe, functional, and welcoming for students, faculty, and staff every day. It’s important that work is recognized and the CSU system needs to honor the agreement with the workers.”

Some California lawmakers recently introduced legislation that would require CSU to honor pay increases even amid state budget changes. Another bill would roll back the November pay raises for campus presidents and set limits on compensation for non-union management and contractors.

Bentley-Smith said CSU “does not comment on proposed legislation before fully evaluating bill language and its potential implications.”

In the meantime, this week, Greene said two managers will have to cover the work of a 30-person crew. Other campus unions like the California Faculty Association and the CSU Employees Union have voiced support for the strike and opposition to one-time bonus offers.

SSU spokesperson Jeff Keating said Monday that Sonoma State “will maintain all essential campus operational services with a focus on high-priority response needs in the areas of health and safety.” Classes and student services will continue during the strike. “The University respects the union’s right to engage in lawful, concerted activity, and the rights of our employees during this process,” he said.

Greene wagers that as an engineer with decades of experience he could double his wages in the private sector, “but then who’s here in my community taking care of the students? I adore education. I have three degrees. I think the mission of CSU and (University of California) is incredibly important,” he said. “We used to be able to do better. Now, we’re just choosing not to.”