Staff Bargaining Update | September 9, 2026
CSU Management brought a proposal with only pennies to offer in our latest bargaining session. Their proposal shows the Chancellor’s Office does not value the workers who make student success possible.
The employer started negotiations in May with a 1% salary increase proposal and, months later, has upped their offer to just 1.2% for Year 1. They increased their second-year offer by 1% to a 4% compensation pool.
We should all be offended — and ready to keep fighting for a fair contract that fully implements steps and provides salary increases that reflect today’s rising cost of living.
Get the latest bargaining update.
Join us on Zoom Friday, Sept. 11 at noon to hear the latest from the bargaining table and learn how members can help us keep up the pressure on CSU.
“I’m offended and insulted by what we were given today. Moving from 1% to 1.2% in their salary offer is laughable. They want to keep the status quo for Temporary workers, and offered nothing constructive on Artificial Intelligence or Shared Services. It’s the height of hypocrisy to keep touting how invaluable our work is to the institution, but when the time comes, there’s nothing in the envelope.”
Andrea Skinner
Bargaining Team Member
Our Contract Action Team (CAT) activists are fired up across the state. Members from campuses within driving distance of the Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach, where bargaining took place, showed up to remind Management that we will not stop until we win the contract we deserve.
This week, KSEE TV covered our labor coalition action at Fresno State, and the Sacramento Bee came to our CAT bargaining action last week.
Now more than ever, we need members on every campus to join their Contract Action Team to share bargaining updates and organize to win the raises we deserve.
Join the Contract Action Team here.
Our next bargaining date is Sept. 18.
Where CSU and CSUEU Stand
Here’s how CSU Management’s Sept. 9 proposal compares with the package CSUEU put forward to move bargaining toward a fair contract.
| Issue | CSUEU Proposal | CSU Proposal (9/9/26) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Steps Implementation | Yes | Yes |
| Use Loan Money to Compensate Those Not Fully on Steps & Signing Bonus | Yes | If the numbers line up... |
| Step Movement | Yes | No |
| Salary Structure Adjustment — Year 1 | 7% | 1.2% |
| Bonus for Red Circle Employees — Year 1 | 7% | No |
| General Salary Increase for Employees Not on Steps — Year 1 | 7% | No |
| Salary Structure Adjustment — Year 2 | 5% | No. 4% “Comp Pool” for Year 2 |
| Bonus for Red Circle Employees — Year 2 | 5% | No |
| General Salary Increase for Employees Not on Steps — Year 2 | 5% | No |
| 2-Year Agreement | Yes | No. Re-opener in Year 3 |
| Market Study | Yes | Not opposed, but not in current proposal |
We need members on every campus organizing to win the raises and contract we deserve.
Join your Contract Action Team, share bargaining updates with your coworkers and help keep the pressure on CSU ahead of our next bargaining session on Sept. 18.