CSU must negotiate with its skilled workers, or they might strike at campuses | Opinion

California State University is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, providing quality higher education to students across 23 campuses. I am one of the thousands of workers who make CSU a success, but CSU is failing us.

I’m a member of Teamsters Local 2010, which represents 1,100 skilled trades workers across CSU. We are the electricians, mechanics, plumbers, carpenters, locksmiths and other trades workers who work every day to keep lights on, pipes flowing, and HVAC systems humming at campuses across California.

As a facilities control specialist at Fresno State for 15 years, I’ve seen the unmatched dedication and invaluable expertise my co-workers bring to CSU. During the pandemic, we went to work every day, putting our health on the line to ensure CSU remained operational. In return, CSU is refusing to negotiate reasonable wage increases, while we face high cost of living and inflation.

Across the country, workers are speaking up, demanding better from their employers, and taking to the picket line to demand what they are owed. Just last year, 48,000 academic workers at the University of California showed their strength and resolve when they went on the largest higher education strike in the nation’s history. If things don’t change, CSU workers could soon be following in their steps.

We are currently at the bargaining table with CSU, and we are fighting for what we deserve. Our biggest demand is fair pay for all workers, provided through a real salary step system. Step increases are the norm for workers at every other government agency in California, but in 1996 step increases were unilaterally removed by CSU’s Board of Trustees. Since joining Teamsters Local 2010 in 2017, CSU skilled trades workers have been leading the campaign to fix the university’s broken salary structure by finally restoring step increases.

Last month, hundreds of CSU workers, including Teamsters members, held a rally outside of CSU’s Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach. We stood in solidarity to send a clear message to the trustees: If the CSU doesn’t step up and give us a fair contract, we are prepared to strike.

I spoke at the meeting, and it wasn’t my first time. I will continue to speak up to hold CSU accountable.

An independent salary study commissioned by the state found CSU staff are paid up to 12 percent less than comparable staff at similar institutions. We, the Teamsters, did our own study, and found that CSU pays its skilled trades workers 23 percent less than the University of California, for the same exact work in the same counties. CSU publicly acknowledged its inability to recruit and retain qualified staff and faculty, but has refused to take the issue seriously at the bargaining table.

Our union filed five unfair labor practice charges against CSU this year for its refusal to bargain in good faith. CSU continues to offer us nothing but low-ball, offensive proposals. It’s evident CSU does not care about the people who make the university system run.

Last year we called on Gov. Newsom to sign Senate Bill 410 into law, which would have required CSU to bring back salary step increases for workers, putting an end to the wage crisis. Despite bipartisan support, the governor vetoed the bill, saying the issue needs to be resolved at the bargaining table.

Teamsters take pride in what we do, and we’re good at it. We deserve a fair contract. The Legislature must give CSU the budget it needs to pay workers fairly, and CSU must get serious at the bargaining table.

If CSU and elected officials don’t act, don’t be surprised to see 60,000 CSU workers on the picket line.