On June 11, 2026, CalArts sent the letter below to the CU-UAW bargaining team, responding to the points highlighted in the communication from CalArts-United on May 27: “We’re Ready to Stand Up for a Fair Contract and Better CalArts.”
Dear CU-UAW,
CalArts has received the letter from CU-UAW dated May 27, 2026, in which CU-UAW states that if the parties do not “reach [three collective bargaining] agreement[s] by August 1 that makes significant improvements to our compensation, job security, benefits, and rights,” CU-UAW members will seek a strike authorization vote. CalArts takes this communication seriously and wishes to respond substantively.
CalArts believes it is important address two principal issues in CU-UAW’s letter: (1) the pace of bargaining, and (2) the substance of economic and other proposals. Here are CalArts’ responses to each of those points:
Bargaining Has Proceeded at An Accelerated Pace
CalArts’ March 30, 2026, update to the informed.calarts.edu website addressed CU-UAW’s allegations of delayed bargaining through the end of March. Since that time, CalArts has met with CU-UAW at every scheduled session—almost weekly—for three to four hours per session, usually alternating between the staff unit one week and the faculty units the next, and sometimes meeting for consolidated bargaining sessions. With more than 20 bargaining sessions completed, the parties have made meaningful progress on substantive proposals. If CalArts and CU-UAW are unable to make sufficient progress during our June sessions, then both parties should cooperate to increase the pace further in July.
Reaching a first contract for each of the three units is a priority, and CalArts shares CU-UAW’s goal of reaching agreement before the start of the next academic year. At the same time, CalArts believes it is important to take the time necessary to reach well-considered collective bargaining agreements—especially first contracts—that holistically address key issues and serve the long-term interests of the entire CalArts community.
For broader perspective: A single, first collective bargaining agreement typically takes 12 to 18 months to negotiate. At CalArts, the parties are attempting to negotiate three separate collective bargaining agreements—for staff, regular and technical faculty, and special faculty—in less than a year, with substantive bargaining beginning in earnest in October 2025. CalArts never stated that all three agreements would be concluded within eight months, as that timeline would be unrealistic given the complexity of negotiations. Nevertheless, CalArts is working at an accelerated pace toward reaching agreements before the next academic year and looks forward to continuing to work constructively with CU-UAW toward that shared goal.
CalArts Has and Will Continue to Bargain in Good Faith Over Substantive Proposals
CalArts would like to address a few more points raised in CU-UAW’s May 27, 2026, letter.
Fair Compensation & Affordable Benefits
First, regarding fair compensation and affordable benefits: As explained in bargaining sessions and institutional meetings, CalArts is committed to providing meaningful raises and affordable benefits. But like many institutions of higher education, CalArts is navigating these issues in the context of a structural deficit and must balance employee compensation with long-term financial sustainability. CalArts’ staff and faculty compensation is at market with comparator peers, as evidenced by compensation studies conducted in the recent past. CalArts continues to offer generous paid time off, relative to its peers.
Regarding health insurance, CalArts has denied any Unfair Labor Practice charge and reminded CU-UAW of the steps it took being consistent with the status quo and, in any event, that CalArts met with CU-UAW in multiple special sessions to negotiate the options for this year’s upcoming open enrollment, and negotiated until no further progress could be made. It thus negotiated with CU-UAW to impasse, which included responding to CU-UAW’s counter by changing its position to be more favorable to employees in its final proposal.
We are all aware that the health insurance market has experienced unprecedented increases in cost. Despite these increases, CalArts has worked to ease the burden on its employees as much as possible, while balancing financial responsibility. CalArts created and implemented a tiered system in which higher-compensated employees bear a proportionally greater share of premium costs. Even with rising healthcare costs, CalArts still covers approximately 75% to 87% of the premium costs for most CU-UAW-represented employees.
CalArts will continue to bargain in good faith with CU-UAW over the economic proposals, while also maintaining fiscal responsibility to the Institute.
Reliable Schedules, Courseloads, and Fair Workloads
CalArts understands and appreciates that equitable workload balancing is an important concern. It is working diligently to propose an equitable system for faculty and to capture and appropriately compensate additional workloads beyond a standard workweek for staff.
Administrative Efficiency
The Institute is implementing a 20% reduction in senior leadership positions, amounting to approximately $1 million in savings. These reductions have already begun and will continue over the next year. No part of the institution is exempt from necessary reductions. The parties have been making good progress in bargaining over layoff proposals and discipline and discharge procedures.
CalArts respects and acknowledges that employees have the right to engage in protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. Both parties have rights and obligations under the NLRA during the collective bargaining process. Should CU-UAW choose to pursue a strike authorization vote, CalArts expects that all applicable legal requirements will be observed. We hope that a work stoppage will not be necessary, and CalArts remains fully committed to bargaining in good faith to reach fair collective bargaining agreements for all three units: (1) Regular and Technical Faculty, (2) Special Faculty, and (3) Staff.
We look forward to continuing to work together toward this shared objective.
Irene Scholl-Tatevosyan
General Counsel
California Institute of the Arts