Cars honked up and down 19th and Holloway avenues this morning in support of Teamsters Local 2010 members and their strike over promised raises that never came.

Teamsters Local 2010 represents 1,100 skilled trades workers across the CSU, including electricians, plumbers, maintenance, carpenters and locksmiths. They authorized the strike with a vote of over 90% after the CSU board of trustees approved raises for university presidents and executives while pausing step raises for the Local 2010 employees. The Teamsters will be on the picket lines of the CSU’s 22 campuses every day this week.

“We’re here today because CSU is being unfair to workers,” said Jason Rabinowitz, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010. “CSU has broken its promises. CSU has zeroed out workers in 2025. CSU failed and refused to pay the contractual wages and step increases to our members in July 2025.”

In 2024, Teamsters 2010 members went on strike for step increases to their salaries, securing them in a contract with the CSU. The salary step system would give long-term workers pre-scheduled boosts to their salaries over three years. The California State University has not upheld their end, citing a lack of funding from the state as the reason for withholding the raises.

“The Teamsters agreed, in writing, to reopen bargaining if a certain level of new, ongoing funds were not received in 2025. That’s exactly where we are,” said the CSU in a written statement.

The contract between CSU and Teamsters was contingent on the university’s budget being fully funded. Last year, the legislature cut the funding by 3%, allowing the CSU to reevaluate the raises they had originally agreed to. 

“They [CSU presidents] got 10-20% raises while the front line workers, the faculty, the staff, the skilled trades who make this place got zero,” Rabinowitz said. “Our members have held up our end of the deal. We showed up for work every day, working hard, keeping this place running, but CSU broke its contract, broke its promises.”

Assemblymember Liz Ortega spoke out earlier this week regarding Assembly Bill 1818, legislation that would require the CSU to honor pay increases amidst budget changes.

“Year after year, the California State University exploits a loophole in the law to dodge accountability and blame me and my colleagues for not keeping their end of the deal,” Ortega said while announcing the bill.

Xavier Morgado, a Teamsters 2010 member and housing electrician at SFSU spoke on the details of the contract that did not get fulfilled.

“Because of a legal loophole, they decided not to honor the third year of our contract,” Morgado said. “They already agreed to give us a 2% raise, but because of that legal loophole they decided not to give us that raise. Instead, they gave it to themselves.”

Local 2010 members mentioned SFSU President Lynn Mahoney and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia as key individuals who received raises instead of skilled workers.

“You treat the lunch lady like you treat the chancellor,” said Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien. “Unfortunately, the Chancellor has no shame in her game…and [is] trying to save money on the backs of the people that make this university a success.”

The picket line began at the entrance of campus on the corner of 19th and Holloway avenues and trailed into the quad to rally. Teamsters members and supporters rallied in front of the administration building with loud speakers and a cheering crowd. 

Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California and member of the CSU board of trustees, also spoke during the rally.

“Rain or shine, we’re gonna be out here and we’re gonna be marching,” Kounalakis said. “And we are not gonna quit until the step increases are honored, and you are honored and you are paid what you deserve.” 

According to Teamsters 2010 member and SFSU campus electrician Ray Castillo, without the step increases, members’ salaries remain stagnant.

“If you never get the step increase, you stay at the same salary range the whole time,” Castillo said. “Even if you make the cost of living, you stay there as the salary structure rises.” 

Skilled trade workers at SFSU feel they are not only being underpaid, but are also understaffed. 

“There’s another thing that’s happening,” Castillo said. “As we retire, they don’t replace us.”

Castillo’s shop on campus used to have eight electricians, and has now been left with four to service the entire campus.

“We’re always on call,” Morgado said. “We have families too, I have young children, Ray has children. We’re supposed to drop everything… and they refuse to give us what they’ve already agreed to give us.”

Morgado also spoke on his personal experience at SFSU as a former student. 

“The better they treat us, the better we are able to do our jobs,” Morgado said. “ I was a student here before I became an electrician. I’ve lived here for 15 years. I am a part of this community. Can you say the same thing about those vice chancellors and presidents?”

Teamsters and their supporters remain committed to the cause despite the pouring rain that they withstood on the picketlines today.

“You picked a fight with the wrong fucking union,” said O’Brien.