Day 1
CU-UAW and CalArts met on July 29 to continue bargaining for the staff unit. The session opened with a Tentative Agreement on Probation, which allows for a three-month probationary period, before the full application of the collective bargaining agreement can apply.
CalArts offered counter proposals on (1) Temporary Employees, (2) Staff Compensation, (3) Scheduling and Workload, and (4) Job Descriptions and Classifications.
In the staff compensation article, CalArts increased its proposal to offer an across-the-board increase of 2.3% on Jan. 1, 2027, Jan. 1, 2028, and Jan. 1, 2029. Additionally CalArts presented the results of a mini-market study for several classifications in the facilities department, resulting in additional increases. CU-UAW countered the proposal asking for an additional 30% on top of the increases already provided for the facilities staffers. The parties engaged in further discussions around compensation and market data. CalArts utilizes survey data prepared by CUPA (Colleges and Universities Professional Association) for the Western region of the United States, then further researches market data within Los Angeles to make compensation recommendations. CalArts presented CU-UAW with its extensive research. Lastly, CalArts countered with a 2.5% across-the-board increase and reiterated its position that offering 2.5% each year for the next three years is what is financially responsible at this moment.
Scheduling and Workload and Job Descriptions and Classification were discussed together and the parties made further progress on these articles.
Day 2
On July 30, 2026, CalArts and CU-UAW met for a consolidated bargaining session during which CalArts presented a package proposal covering (1) No Strike, No Lockout, (2) Grievance and Arbitration, (3) Management Rights, (4) Union Security, (5) Union Access, and (6) Tuition Benefits and Loan Assistance.
CU-UAW presented a package proposal covering (1) New Technology, (2) CalArts Data Protections, and (3) Healthcare and Retirement Benefits.
The parties reached tentative agreements on (1) New Technology, (2) Data Protections, and (3) Tuition Benefits and Loan Assistance, and made progress on the other proposals.
Day 3
On July 31, 2026, CalArts and CU-UAW met to continue bargaining for both faculty units. The parties reached tentative agreement on (1) Intellectual Property and (2) Academic Freedom. For Academic Freedom, the parties discussed the size and composition of a committee that would be tasked with developing the academic freedom policy following ratification. The parties also discussed the relationship between academic freedom and artistic freedom, confirming that CalArts’ no-censorship-of-art policy would remain in place and could be incorporated as part of the status quo.
CU-UAW made counterproposals on (1) Librarian Responsibilities, and (2) Special Faculty Responsibilities. CalArts made counterproposals on (1) Regular and Technical Faculty Compensation, (2) Regular and Technical Faculty Appointments and Obligation Period, (3) Special Faculty Initial Appointment, Obligation, and Workload, and (4) Special Faculty Compensation.
For Regular and Technical Faculty Compensation, CalArts agreed to eliminating the bottom two steps of the FSAP scale so that all faculty begin at step 3, along with a 2.5% wage increase to base pay for each of the next three years. CalArts agreed to apply the increase to recurring stipends. CalArts proposed not increasing Academic Council stipends, noting that most or all employment representation duties have moved off the Academic Council and over to the union.
The parties have scheduled further sessions the week of Aug. 3 in hopes that they can reach agreement on all or almost all outstanding articles.