Committee advances bill to remove an outdated HERO provision used to revise CSU contracts

AB 1818, advanced by the committee, would repeal a lingering HERO code section the sponsor described as an outdated mechanism the California State University has used to reopen negotiations and withhold bargained increases.

The author told the committee that HERO was passed in 1978 when budgets were appropriated line‑item and that modern lump‑sum budgeting renders the provision unnecessary. "AB 1818 seeks to remove this unnecessary code section to restore balance in the collective bargaining process," the author said.

Jason Rabinowitz, secretary‑treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010, and Ernesto Torres, vice president and skilled‑trades director for Local 2010, said CSU has exploited the language to avoid implementing negotiated raises and that their members have experienced hardship and service disruption as a result. "AB 1818 would prevent these problems in the future by simply requiring CSU to do what every other public employer does — bargain in good faith and honor duly negotiated agreements," Rabinowitz said.

CSU legislative advocate Adriana Gomez testified in respectful opposition. Gomez said the 2024 ratified collective bargaining agreement included provisions tying certain salary increases to the receipt of about $240,000,000 in new, unallocated, ongoing funding in the 25‑26 budget; because that funding did not materialize as expected, the parties entered a mutually agreed reopening process and mediation through PERB. Gomez warned AB 1818 could limit CSU's ability to manage financial commitments and expose the system to significant fiscal risk.

After closing remarks, the committee voted to pass AB 1818 and refer it to Appropriations. The clerk reported the item as out "7 to 0."

Next steps: the bill moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.