On September 9, union members from across the California State University system gathered at the CSU Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach. Among them were proud members of Teamsters Local 2010, standing shoulder to shoulder with faculty, staff, and student supporters in a united call for fairness.

At the heart of this action is a simple demand: honor the agreements that were made.

The Background

The CSU’s 2022-27 labor compacts included pay increases tied to the state providing new, ongoing funding. But in this year’s budget, that promise was broken. Instead of additional investment, CSU faced a 3% base budget cut—while the state offered a short-term, zero-interest loan as a temporary patch.

Because the “funding contingency” was not met, negotiated raises for CSU workers—including Teamsters—remain stalled. This leaves frontline staff and professionals waiting on pay increases that were meant to keep up with California’s rising cost of living.

The Teamsters’ Message

Teamsters Local 2010, representing CSU clerical, administrative, and skilled trades workers, joined the rally to insist that CSU leadership take immediate action:

• Accept the state loan to stabilize the system.

• Deliver the promised raises without delay.

• Provide transparency so workers know where the money is going.

As Local 2010 leaders and members made clear, CSU runs on the labor of thousands of dedicated workers. Without them, classrooms don’t function, facilities don’t operate, and students don’t get the quality education they deserve.

“CSU’s frontline staff keep this system running every single day. They deserve fair pay, not broken promises. It’s time for CSU to do right by its workers,” said Jason Rabinowitz, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010.

Why This Matters

This fight is about more than a budget line—it’s about respect, accountability, and the value of public higher education. CSU workers have already stepped up, keeping the system running through years of uncertainty. Now it’s time for CSU to step up for them.

At Teamsters Joint Council 42, representing 250,000 workers across the West, our message is simple: Do right by the people who power California’s universities.

✊ Fair pay, transparency, and respect—nothing less.