Updates

This week, CalArts and UAW have reached two additional tentative agreements between bargaining sessions on: (1) Tax Assistance and (2) Orientations.

On Feb. 9 and Feb. 11, CalArts and CU-UAW met for additional special sessions to discuss this year’s annual changes to healthcare benefits for the April 2026 to March 2027 cycle.

As context, these were the third and fourth sessions conducted to discuss the topic. Today (Feb. 11) was the last day for the parties to attempt to reach agreement in order to allow sufficient time for employee communications, plan finalization, and back-end administration—so open enrollment can run smoothly and coverage can begin April 1.

CalArts and CU-UAW met on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, for a second special session to discuss healthcare benefits for the April 2026 to March 2027 cycle. (Again, this meeting was unrelated to bargaining for benefits for the collective bargaining agreements for the three separate CU-UAW units).

CalArts and CU-UAW met on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, for a special session to discuss healthcare benefits for the April 2026 to March 2027 cycle. (This meeting was unrelated to bargaining for benefits for the collective bargaining agreements for the three separate CU-UAW units)

Over the weekend, on Jan. 24, 2026, the arbitrator issued her decision finding that most of those individuals are eligible to be in the bargaining units based on her understanding of applicable standards under the National Labor Relations Act.

On Jan. 14 and Jan. 21, CalArts and the CU-UAW (“Union”) met for their seventh and eight bargaining sessions, respectively.