Cal State reached a tentative agreement with its largest labor group this week, aiming to fix long-standing problems with salary steps and give employees more financial certainty.
The deal involves the California State University Employees Union, which represents about 14,500 staff members across health care, maintenance and administrative support roles, and it marks the first time that a step-based pay framework has been fully adopted by the system.
If union members and the Board of Trustees approve the contract, the agreement will put the step-based salary system into effect and will also modify the existing pay structure for all covered workers.
During the three-year term, employees can expect average raises ranging from 8% to 12%, with the exact figure depending on the specific bargaining unit.
Full-time staff who qualify will receive a one-time bonus of $3,575, while part-time workers will get a proportionate amount in a December payment.
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Union President Catherine Hutchinson said members have faced stagnant wages amid rising living costs, adding that the tentative deal marks “meaningful progress” though “our work is not finished.”
CSU Chancellor Mildred García expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that it “fully implements the negotiated salary step system and provides a clear framework for compensation over the next three years.”
The agreement also includes an option to reopen negotiations in 2028, giving both sides a chance to revisit terms if circumstances change.
Beyond the regular employees, the union also represents roughly 20,000 student workers who voted to unionize two years ago and are now negotiating their first contract.
