Skilled trade workers union still on strike

El Leñador Staff February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 0 Comments

by Julia Rants and Tim Nakautoga

The Teamsters Local 2010 skilled workers union representing about 35 Cal Poly Humboldt employees, joined the California State University system-wide strike on Feb. 17. The strike is set to last till Feb. 20 unless an agreement is reached.

Teamsters Local 2010 represents around 1,100 CSU skilled trade workers, including carpenters, plumbers, locksmiths, mechanics and other building maintenance workers across 22 campuses. According to local union steward and locksmith Phil Bradley.

The union is striking for pay increases that were negotiated in their contract that was added following their strike in 2023.

Phil Bradley standing with union siblings outside College Creek Marketplace on Feb. 18. Photo by Ellis Nickel

Bradley emphasized the importance of pay increase for the union.

“It’s how we keep people from hopping jobs every couple of years so we can build some institutional knowledge,” Bradley said. “Because, let me tell you, you need it around here trying to locate all the systems and like ‘where are the water shutoffs for this building?’”

President Carvajal stated earlier last week in a campus wide email that they do not anticipate any issues relating to strike activities and campus and student services continue to operate as normal with possible temporary delays.

The university also reinforced that these negotiations happen at the CSU level and that skilled trade employees are crucial members of the CPH campus community.

“Local Teamsters representatives shared plans about their activities with University leadership,” said Melissa Hutsell from the university’s Marketing and Communications. “The University supports their legal right to strike, and we appreciate their transparency and open communication.”

CPH skilled trade workers walking through campus on Feb. 18. Photo by Ellis Nickel

At the picket line

Tom Snyder is a CPH building services engineer and has worked on campus for years.

“We’re out here because CSU promised us the raises this time, they got fully funded and they’re saying ‘no’. And they walked away from the bargaining table,” Snyder said. “So we’re out here letting them know what we think of it.”

In the past, the California Faculty Association (CFA) local union on campus has had a strong relationship with Teamsters Local 2010.

Ryder Dschida, the Humboldt union president for the CFA. As CFA is not currently in bargaining, they cannot legally strike alongside Teamsters but can show up in other ways.

“We can encourage members to show solidarity with Teamsters by signing pledge cards and showing up for them when we can,” Dschida said. “If our members want to demonstrate with the Teamsters, they have every right to do so, but they should understand that they won’t be retaliated against, but their pay will likely be docked if their action is during work hours.”

As renegotiations for the last year of the current contract unfold and the Teamsters prepare to negotiate the next, Bradley reinforced the importance of worker solidarity across the campus and community.

“It’s solidarity. I think we all see that. We’re all fighting the same battle, and we’re all in this together,” Bradley said. “And we’re really hoping that if our strike is successful, that then sets the precedent so that no one else has to do this.”