San Francisco State University’s plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other skilled workers went on strike Tuesday morning, a move that the California State University system is calling “unlawful.”
The employees joined an ever-growing list of collegiate workers demanding wage increases across California campuses, but they are the first union to actually initiate a strike this academic year. High costs of living throughout the state, coupled with an increase in health care costs, are driving many workers to seek higher pay.
Teamsters Local 2010, which represents 1,100 skilled trades workers in the CSU system, are demanding salary increases and pay parity with their University of California contemporaries. According to the union, CSU skilled labor workers make 23% less than UC workers at campuses in the same county.
SFSU employees joined CSU East Bay, Poly Pomona, Sacramento, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge and Bakersfield laborers in the one-day organized strike.
CSU and the Teamsters reached an impasse in their contract negotiations this month, but are still engaged in the bargaining process under state law, according to the university system. On Nov. 7, Teamsters called for the one-day unfair labor practice strike with 95% of union members supporting the strike.
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Jason Rabinowitz, secretary-treasurer of the union, said that “months of bad-faith bargaining, stalled negotiations, and clear violations of state law” by the university system led members to strike.
“CSU has shamelessly interfered with our members’ rights to engage in union activities, including by unilaterally changing work rules, removing Teamster signage and materials from breakrooms, and threatening retaliation for participating in a strike action,” he said. “We’re ready to demonstrate the strength of our solidarity and to fight for the fair contract we deserve.”
The CSU Chancellor’s Office released a statement on Monday acknowledging the strike as “unlawful,” because the union and university system are still actively negotiating. All CSU campuses, including San Francisco State University, remained open on Tuesday as of press time.
California State University faculty also announced Thursday that they would go on a one-day labor strike if demands of salary increases are not met. San Francisco State University faculty are set to strike on Dec. 5.
City College faculty and skilled trade workers, represented by AFT 2121 and SEIU 1021, respectively, are also preparing to strike.
