California State University Unit 6 members voted Wednesday to authorize a strike against CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia, alleging unpaid July 2025 contractual and seniority-based raises, as well as a failure to negotiate. 

As a chapter of the Teamsters Local 2010, CSU Unit 6 represents 1,100 skilled trades workers systemwide, 94% of whom voted to strike. The strike date has yet to be announced.

According to a release published by CSU Unit 6, the CSU cited federal budget cuts as the reason for contract reopening and the subsequent raise refusal. 

However, a union leader’s Dec. 10 letter to Garcia alleges that the state provided the CSU with a zero-interest loan to bridge budget gaps and fund the raises.

“We protest … the University’s unlawful and immoral refusal to pay our July 2025 contractual raises and step increases and your refusal to bargain in good faith regarding the matter, despite receiving the funding from the state necessary to keep your commitment to workers, and even as you hand out huge raises to already overpaid executives,” the letter reads. 

Last month, the CSU Board of Trustees overturned the presidential salary increase cap and approved raises for 13 university presidents. SDSU President Adela de la Torre received a nearly 5% raise of $26,657, bringing her salary to $559,805.

This is not the first action that CSU Unit 6 has taken to fight for their promised pay increases. On July 3, just two days after the raises were set to take effect, the union put the CSU on notice for “an expensive, disruptive battle” and a potential strike. 

In October, following an Unfair Labor Practice charge, the CSU rejected Unit 6’s demands for their owed wages plus penalties and offered a one-time payment of 3% if the union ceased petitioning. CSU Unit 6 rejected the offer, calling it a “lowball.”

Union leaders have also alleged disrespect from the CSU negotiators. 

“At the bargaining table, your representatives have mocked workers for insisting on being paid what is owed to them and have expressed zero concern or empathy for the financial difficulties CSU’s actions are causing its workers,” the Dec. 10 letter reads.

It is not confirmed where the strike will take place or how it might affect SDSU’s campus, but The Daily Aztec will continue to monitor the situation.