Fullerton action builds on escalating statewide mobilization demanding CSU pay 1,100 skilled-trades workers long-overdue, contractually owed raises and negotiate a fair contract.

Teamsters Local 2010 members will rally and picket on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Cal State Fullerton as students return for the new academic year, escalating their year-long fight over CSU’s refusal to pay 1,100 skilled-trades workers raises they were promised in July 2025.

Teamsters’ action comes during Cal State Fullerton’s Welcome Week. Members will kick off with flyering near Langsdorf Fountain, where they will speak directly with students, parents and others on campus about CSU’s broken pay promises. At noon, workers will then gather for a rally and picket, joined by members of the Teamster Thunder Social Motorcycle Club, calling out CSU for their treatment of the skilled workers who maintain university buildings, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling, and other critical infrastructure.

The actions are part of a statewide mobilization taking place during student move-in, convocation and welcome-week events at CSU campuses across California. They follow Teamsters’ week-long Unfair Labor Practice strike in February and come as workers continue bargaining with CSU for a fair successor contract.

 ACTION DETAILS

 WHO: Teamsters Local 2010 skilled trades workers, Teamster Thunder Social Motorcycle Club and allies

 WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• Flyering from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
• Rally and Picketing from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

WHERE: Langsdorf Fountain, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92831.

WHAT: Teamsters will rally and picket with allies during Welcome Week to demand that CSU honor its commitments to skilled trades workers and pay their contractually owed raises.

On-the-Ground Media Contact: Steven Phillips, Steward and Bargaining Team member, 530-588-6434 

Additional Context:

For nearly 30 years, CSU denied workers regular step increases, leaving them with no way to move through their wage ranges, resulting in workers with decades of service languishing at the bottom of their pay range. Teamsters Local 2010 members organized, fought back, and won fair salary steps and long-overdue raises through a series of strikes in late 2023, finally bringing CSU Skilled Trades workers closer to the pay levels they deserve. 

In July 2025, CSU illegally refused to pay contractually promised raises, falsely claiming the state did not fully fund the University. CSU withheld these raises and gave no raises to any front-line employees in 2025, while handing out huge wage increases to overpaid executives, pocketing a zero-interest loan from the state intended to fund worker raises, and sitting on billions in reserves. In July 2026, CSU approved a nearly $344,000 salary for former Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales through its executive transition program after he stepped down amid lawsuits accusing him of discrimination and harassment. Even more recently, lawmakers have halted a bill aimed at blocking salary increases for executive leadership at CSU, coming on the heels of last November’s pay hikes, which pushed annual compensation past $500,000 for nearly half of the 22 campus presidents, despite skilled trades workers being denied their contractually owed raises. 

Because of CSU’s refusal to pay trades workers their promised raises, Teamsters Local 2010 held an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike in February 2026, which disrupted campus operations, delayed maintenance and facilities work, and generated an extraordinary wave of public support and political pressure on CSU leadership. Nearly two dozen state and local elected officials sent letters directly to CSU Chancellor Garcia demanding the University honor its contractual commitments and immediately provide workers the raises they are owed. Students, faculty, labor allies, and community members joined statewide picket lines and rallies from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego to the Central Coast.

The week-long strike energized and empowered workers across the CSU system. It demonstrated to CSU leadership that the Teamsters will not stop fighting for the compensation they are owed. 

Since the strike, CSU has continued its refusal to negotiate in good faith over promised raises, including for future years, leading the Teamsters to file another ULP complaint at the end of June. Now, following the Teamsters’ recent declaration of no confidence in Chancellor Garcia, they continue to meet at the bargaining table with CSU to negotiate a fair deal for skilled trade workers across the CSU system. 

Until CSU makes good on its commitment to pay workers what they are owed, Teamsters will not back down.

About Teamsters Local 2010

Teamsters Local 2010 is an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and represents over 28,000 workers in California education, including 1,100 essential skilled trades workers at CSU.