CALIFORNIA – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 2010 has called for an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike at California State University campuses, set to take place from February 17 to 20.
The decision came after a vote where 94% of members supported the strike, following what the Teamsters say was the CSU’s refusal to honor contractual raises and salary steps promised for July of 2025.
Union stewards were informed of the strike on January 20. In their announcement, the Teamsters accuse CSU of unfair labor practices, including bargaining in bad faith and distributing anti-union communications.
The union claims that while workers are denied their raises, CSU executives received significant pay increases, the university accepted and pocketed state loans that were intended for worker raises, and that the CSU sits on billions in reserves.
“The CSU would much rather give presidents and executives 9% raises than to invest in the futures of skilled trades workers who keep the heating and air working, the water running, the lights on and our campuses safe for students and the CSU community,” Ernesto Torres, a member of the bargaining team, said. “We make the CSU work. Without our labor, there would be no campuses in operation.”
Picket lines and rallies are planned for all 22 CSU campuses, as well as the CSU Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach. Deliveries and construction will be disrupted, and members are encouraged to join the picket lines.
The strike has support from various CSU unions and has been sanctioned by the California Labor Federation.
Jason Rabinowitz, Teamsters Local 2010 Secretary-Treasurer, expressed the union’s frustration, saying, “In calling this strike, Teamsters members are speaking loud and clear: We are fed up with CSU’s greed, disrespect and unfair practices. CSU is out of time and out of excuses.”
The public is advised to avoid campuses during the strike, as many facilities may not be operational due to the absence of qualified mechanics and technicians. Members will receive further details about the strike in the coming days.
Action News Now reached out to Chico State University, one of the CSU campuses in which the Teamsters will be holding their strikes at, for a statement regarding the strike.
Andrew Staples, the Director of Public Relations at Chico State University, provided the following statement to Action News Now:
“Chico State is aware of the Teamsters’ planned systemwide strike scheduled for February 17–20, 2026. At this time, we anticipate that University operations will continue as normal. Classes are expected to meet as scheduled, and student services should remain available.
Our Teamsters employees are a valued part of the Chico State community, and we respect their legal right to advocate through their union.
While Chico State is not directly involved in the collective bargaining process between the union and the California State University system, we remain hopeful that the parties will reach a fair and timely agreement.”