Union Challenges CSU for Violating Labor Law
CSUEU members prepared to show we are not backing down
Handed a state budget with no funding cuts, CSU administrators are willfully looking at a glass of full funding and claiming it’s half empty based on technicalities.
CSUEU members have worked too long and too hard to let CSU leadership casually wiggle out of their contractual commitments. We know we have the backing of the Governor and Legislative leaders who support a salary steps system to address decades of pay inequity and below market wages.
Salary steps were a hard-fought victory, and we will need to take collective action on multiple fronts to secure full implementation.
What Is the Issue?
The main issue is compact funding, the commitment the Governor made to provide 5% annual funding increases to the CSU from 2022-2027. The Budget Act of 2025 maintains full compact funding but will distribute this year’s 5% over two years: 2% in 2026-27 and 3% in 2028-29. It also commits an additional $252 million in one-time funding in 2027-28.
CSUEU members’ contract specifies that salary steps placement would start in October 2025 unless the final state Budget Act 2025 does not allocate $227 million.
The budget does allocate these funds, but it spreads the funds over three years. Instead of capitalizing on this creative funding solution, CSU management is using technicalities to avoid compensating employees fairly.
We Are Fighting Back
- Sign the petition to demand full salary steps now.
- We filed charges with the state Public Employment Relations Board for violating labor law.
- We are calling on legislators to ensure that the CSU fulfills its commitments to employees. >> Read full article
CSUEU Members Join “Justice Journey”
As the Trump Administration deploys federal immigration agents, the National Guard, and even U.S. Marines to target immigrant communities and detain thousands without due process, a group of CSUEU members stepped up to join a national movement to fight back.
Organized by SEIU and workers rights coalition partners, dozens of union members left the comforts of home behind to join a “Justice Journey” this summer. Traveling by bus across the country, activists aimed to shed light on the so-called “detention alley” in the Deep South where 14 of the 20 largest immigration detention centers in the US are located.
“I participated because I am an immigrant myself. I was lucky to have the opportunity to become a naturalized citizen. So now I need to speak up and fight for those who can not and are afraid,” said Kenneth Chip, Distribution Center Lead from Cal State LA.
Leaders Needed for Statewide Union Committees
Our Union is the place where workers come together to maximize our collective power as we fight for good pay, safe working conditions, and respect. Many of us are also committed to other issues like supporting diversity, ensuring safe workplaces, and communicating CSUEU’s priorities to a statewide audience.
If you would like to become more involved and help our Union grow stronger, consider joining one of the statewide committees by clicking here.
Families First Actions July 26
CSUEU members are organizing a fight back against Federal policies that harm working families. Members at Humboldt, Chico, Bakersfield, Northridge, Los Angeles, Pomona, and more are taking action. View a full map of the planned actions here.
On July 26, Americans in every corner of the country will come together in peaceful marches, rallies, and actions to say: Our families come first—not billionaires, not authoritarians, and not corrupt politicians.
