A union representing 1,100 skilled trades workers in the California State University system said Monday its members voted to authorize a strike if the two sides can’t reach a deal.
Ninety-four percent of the members of Teamsters Local 2010 voted to allow union officials to call a strike at 22 CSU campuses “in protest of the university’s unfair labor practices,” the union said.
Union officials said they’ve filed numerous unfair labor practices complaints against the school and that its members’ pay is considerably lower than similar workers at the University of California system.
“While step increases are standard for workers at every other state agency, many of CSU’s skilled trades workers have been working for decades with no way to consistently move up from the bottom of their salary scale,” according to union officials.
The union represents facilities workers, mechanics, carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, blacksmiths and engineers, among other workers.
“Our members are fired up and, if necessary, they’re ready to take to the picket line — it’s up to the CSU to bargain in good faith for a fair contract, or we will strike,” said Teamsters Local Secretary-Treasurer 2010 Jason Rabinowitz.
The Teamsters, along several other unions in the CSU Labor Coalition, plan to attend the CSU Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 7 to protest the lack of progress at the bargaining table.
“A vote to authorize a strike does not mean that the union will call a strike. The CSU remains committed to bargaining in good faith and reaching an agreement with Teamsters, as we have done with five other CSU unions in recent weeks,” university officials said in a statement.
“The CSU and Teamsters will be meeting with the state-appointed mediator this week, and we hope that with the mediator’s assistance we can find common ground,” CSU officials said.
…. so everybody is jumping on the “strike” bandwagon… then prices will skyrocket (the auto unions strike will cost $900 to each vehicle sold) then nobody will buy anything
Yeah, screw those fairly paid union workers. Bring in more illegals to work at half the wages
Four year colleges are overpriced, high school grads should seriously consider going to a junior college and learn a skill set that is both portable and in demand. LMC in Pittsburg has a two year program and even before graduation companies are making job offers. Staring salaries are substantial and if at a Union shop expect $85,000 and up. With overtime $100,000 + not unusual.
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Portable skill set and job security with little to no student debt.
@Original G
Many times, the reason why many students choose a 4-year over a trade is physical labor. Many students are of the idea that having a college degree means sitting at a desk doing little to no work while getting paid crazy amounts. Many are of the idea that workplaces should be like Twitter, Apple, Google headquarters, where employees have access to a wide range of amenities.
Absolutely correct. The day is coming when we will struggle to find people to require our homes, do plumbing repair, cut our meat, etc, etc. College is not the be all and end all. My neighbor’s son got an apprenticeship through the steam fitters union and he is on the way to a profitable career. When our high schools abandoned the trades, we were cutting our own throats.
PESFG, … Had an Electrical Engineer fresh out of a state college, saw his pay, I was making more than he was. He also had hefty amount of student debt then had a baby, his chances of buying a house were zero.
Was hard watching that kid struggle financially.
There is huge satisfaction being hands on and when you leave ate the end of the day there’s a sense of accomplishment. Job was not work because I enjoyed it so much.
Other consideration is number of job openings.
Two electrical engineers as bosses supervised 15 industrial electricians in our division.
With normal turn over plenty of openings for electricians, engineers maybe once every 5-8 years.
At this point in time silicon valley and social media are downsizing.
Person needs a skill set employers are willing to pay up for to fall back on.
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Macwiz, … Absolutely agree.
Steam fitters union, WOW, that kid is set for life if he makes it thru apprenticeship.
That’s a single earner wife raises the kids, plus they get to buy a house in CA.
Read an article last week about biden’s EV revolution and they were moaning because so many charging station units needed repair. There’s a lack of qualified, trained craftspeople to repair them.
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Went thru employers training program which eventually was handed off to LMC.
Used to work with many of the LMC instructors. Last semester students routinely get head hunted by companies with job offers. From classroom straight to work.
I wonder if the academics who recently unionized will support the skilled workers on strike? I have suspicion the academics might look down on those who don’t spend a lifetime in college and work with their hands (ick)