On March 25, 2026, CU-UAW and CalArts met for another session of consolidated bargaining. CalArts provided counterproposals to CU-UAW’s proposals on Work Travel and Holidays, plus prepared ground rules for the three separate bargaining units. CU-UAW provided a counter to parking/transit, plus 15 additional articles specific to the separate units.
On Holidays, CalArts proposed changing the name of Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers’ Day. CalArts also countered that Winter Break for staff would remain at eight (8) paid days, subject to the calendar each year. Additionally, if an employee is asked to work over winter break, they would receive holiday pay and pay for their time worked. CU-UAW had previously proposed that an employee would receive additional vacation time as well. CalArts explained that is essentially triple pay and proposed that the employee could have the option of receiving pay for their work OR additional vacation time.
On Work Travel, CalArts proposed adopting the Travel and Expense Policy as an article in the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), therefore allowing for bargaining over changes. CU-UAW had previously proposed per diem rates higher than IRS limits and that mileage reimbursements include an individual’s commute. CalArts explained that to do so is considered taxable income and therefore unduly burdensome. CalArts proposal incorporates the benefit of TSA PreCheck costs for employees traveling for admissions-related business more than six times a calendar year.
CU-UAW shared a counterproposal to parking and transit, which allows for the option of employees to opt out of free campus parking and receive a public transit subsidy.
CalArts then shared ground rules for the three separate units. The ground rules remain predominantly the same as the consolidated unit, except the separate topics are identified for the separate units. CalArts also proposed meeting weekly through May on a rotating schedule with both faculty units meeting on one week and the staff unit the following week. Such a schedule would allow for meaningful progress to be made.
Additionally, for the first time, CU-UAW passed 15 new articles (individual proposals), most of which are specific to the separate units. CU-UAW additionally suggested that CalArts was causing delays and not working quickly enough through their proposed articles. The parties’ history on articles exchanges belies this disingenuous assertion. For example, CU-UAW has not responded to four articles from CalArts that were provided to CU-UAW since early October 2025. CU-UAW was hoping to have all three contracts in place by the end of the school year.
CalArts then reiterated information that has been shared from the beginning. Consolidated bargaining is permissive, not mandatory, but we agreed to the ground rules and have followed the proposed schedule put forward in October. In other words, the parties have met for sessions of consolidated bargaining as per their mutually signed agreement (and rescheduled a few sessions where there were unanticipated emergencies). We anticipated getting through consolidated bargaining first and have shared from the beginning that an initial contract often takes 1 to 1.5 years and we are attempting to work through three contracts. CalArts has brought forward additional topics of discussion including the VSP/BRP programs, layoffs, and benefit changes in an effort of good faith to discuss required workplace changes with CU-UAW.
CalArts remains committed to meeting weekly through May in an effort to maintain meaningful progress in our discussions, and more often, if possible, once the parties make a couple counterproposals all of the new articles and forthcoming articles to be exchanged.