Teamsters representing skilled trades workers at 22 Cal State University campuses plan to hold an unfair labor practice strike Tuesday, Nov. 14, claiming their wages fall far below that of UC employees who do the same work. Employees are seen here at a September rally. Skilled trades workers at 22 Cal State University campuses plan to hold an unfair labor practice strike Tuesday, Nov. 14, claiming their wages fall far below that of UC employees who do the same work.
The workers — including plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, auto mechanics and locksmiths, among others — perform myriad jobs across the university system related to school facilities such as student housing, classrooms and sports venues.“A state mediator was brought in on Oct. 31 to help resolve the dispute, but nothing came of that,” he said. “They are not bargaining in good faith.”
Alex Vermie, a research analyst with Teamsters Local 2010, said CSU electricians with 23 or more years of experience in the Los Angeles area are earning 13.5% to 20.8% less than their UCLA counterparts. “Workers have been denied annual step increases in pay for the past 28 years,” Rabinowitz said. “We have employees who have been here for decades who are still at the bottom of their pay range. They’re falling further and further behind.”“The CSU remains committed to the collective bargaining process and reaching a negotiated agreement for increased compensation with the Teamsters, as we have done with five of our other employee unions in recent weeks,” CSU management said.