On October 1, 2025, the CalArts and CU-UAW bargaining teams met to launch consolidated bargaining negotiations. (“Consolidated bargaining” involves those topics that both parties agree would be appropriate to address with the three separate units—Regular and Technical Faculty, Special Faculty, and Staff—all together.)
Each bargaining team exchanged initial articles. CU-UAW provided articles on Parking and Transit, Union Access, Union Security, Union-Management Committee, and Severability. CalArts provided articles on Management Rights, No Strike-No Lockout, and Complete Agreement.
The parties discussed the articles, and will reconvene for further discussion in about two weeks.
A Management Rights clause is a provision in a labor contract that outlines the rights reserved for management that are not explicitly otherwise covered in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), such as the ability to direct the workforce, set schedules, and determine job assignments. CalArts’ Management Rights clause is extremely similar to the Management Rights article that can be found in the CBAs of Art Center, Otis, RISD, CCA, and Occidental College. In other words, it is quite standard.
Like a Management Rights clause, a No Strike-No Lockout clause is usually a standard clause found in many CBAs. It is a provision in which a union agrees not to strike or engage in work slowdowns, and an employer agrees not to impose a lockout. This clause is intended to prevent work stoppages during the contract term and encourage the resolution of disputes through the grievance and arbitration process provided in the agreements. CalArts’ proposal is again quite similar to those found at the institutions identified above, as well as UAW’s own contracts with NYU, Local 7902 and Barnard College, Local 2110.
Finally, a Complete Agreement clause says that the CBA encompasses the complete agreement of the parties and captures their full understanding. This is also a fairly standard clause found in CBAs, and CalArts’ proposal is based on such a clause the NLRB found to be enforceable.
CalArts will provide a further explanation on the status of UAW’s proposal in its next update.
This post was updated on 10/8/25 to include descriptions of the various clauses.