Timeline

Brief Summary

  • March 2026: During budget review, CSUEU Board of Directors members identified statewide officer stipends and voted to pause them pending further review. Concerns later emerged regarding compliance with that direction and alleged retaliation against a statewide officer who supported the pause.
  • April 2026: Concerns intensified over financial transparency, governance, and the Board’s ability to exercise oversight as meetings were cancelled and information requests went unanswered.
  • May 30, 2026: The Board convened after multiple cancelled meetings and approved a Letter of No Confidence in the Statewide President, Catherine Hutchinson, and Vice President for Finance, Terrance Wilson.
  • June 8, 2026: Ten campus chapters were placed into trusteeship, significantly reducing local representation on the Board.
  • June 9, 2026: Proposed bylaws were released that would replace CSUEU’s chapter-based governance structure and shift authority away from local chapters.
  • July 4, 2026: Bylaws vote results – the measure does NOT pass.  68.92% NO votes vs 31.07% YES votes.
  • July 16, 2026: Chapters are unable to receive dues monthly as is standard practice, due to access being removed by former executives.
  • Explore the key moments driving transparency and accountability. Stay informed, stay engaged, and help shape the future of our union.

The timeline below is presented from most recent to oldest.

Detailed Timeline

2026
July 22
CSEA Stopped Stipends
CSEA stopped stipends to the three executive officers.
July 16
CSEA notices VP of Finance Ortega

CSEA notices VP of Finance Ortega that ACH payments are suspended and Chapters are unable to receive dues monthly as is standard practice, due to access being removed by former executives

July 8
SA Bargaining Team

Student Assistant Bargaining Team has meeting with Hutchinson and Marjeli Lopez.

July 4
Bylaws Vote Results

Bylaws vote results – the measure does NOT pass. Results from Electionbuddy.com show a total of 5,834 participants. 4021 voted NO and 1813 voted YES. 68.92% NO votes vs 31.07% YES votes.

July 2
Former VP Finance email

As a last ditch effort to influence the vote, former VP Finance sent a message to members about basically being broke putting the blame on the Board of Directors. Meanwhile three of those executive officers are still receiving unauthorized stipends from CSUEU on top of their full pay from the CSU.

July 1
Lawsuit email

While Bargaining Team is in session at Cal State LA, Hutchinson sends “CSUEU Leadership Announcement” email to all statewide members with “lawsuit” attached. Indicates finances are in good standing.

June 27
Board meeting reconvened

Adjourned board meeting from May 30 reconvened.

June 9
Next Steps

Special meeting request sent by large contingent of Board members working to provide oversight.

June 9
New Bylaws Proposed

Bylaws “vote” noticed by statewide leadership.  Proposed bylaws completely restructure our Union, removing local chapter governance, and concentrate power in the hands of a very small group of statewide officers. Special meeting request sent by a large contingent of Board members working to provide oversight.

June 8
Trusteeships Announced

Ten campuses were notified of “emergency trusteeship” without the proper process being followed.  The Trusteeship notification was sent without consultation or input from the full CSUEU Executive Committee. Additionally, the Trusteeship declaration for these campuses was not followed by the necessary actions or procedures that would ratify the Trusteeship (i.e.full executive committee not in attendance at meeting for decision, and no report filed to indicate justification, findings or cause).

June 8
Letter Delivered

Letter of No Confidence signed by 24 of 35 Board members delivered to Catherine Hutchinson and Terrence Wilson.

May 31
Draft Board Meeting Minutes

Draft of May 30 Board Meeting minutes distributed to all CSUEU Board of Directors members including those not in attendance on May 30.

May 30
Board of Directors meeting

Board Meeting held via Zoom. Board votes to craft a letter of no confidence and send it to all Board members for signature.

May 18
Meeting Postponement

Board meetings are postponed indefinitely.

May 4
UAW vs CSUEU

Matt Bruenig’s UAW story is published, illustrating questionable behavior and alleged violation of the contract for our Union’s paid staff.

April 21
Oversight Denial #3

Third request to inspect records denied.

April 20
Cease & Desist

Litigation hold issued, cease & desist sent to Erin re: agenda & draft bylaws circulation.

April 15
Appeal Denied

Appeal vote denied, and “future stipends invoiced.”

April 9
Cancellation Appeal

Cancellation of April Board meeting is appealed.

April 5
Meeting Cancellation #2

April Board meeting cancelled.

April 3
Complaint

Formal complaint filed.

April 1
Silencing Dissent

Order to cease group communication amongst the Board.

March 27
Oversight Denial #2

Second request to inspect records submitted and denied; new edits begin on draft bylaws.

March 18
Oversight Denial

Records request submitted & denied.

March 17
Meeting Cancellation

March Board meeting cancelled by Statewide President.

March 13
Possible Retaliation

Erin’s union release time is pulled effective 3/30, after her vote with the Board to pause the stipends.

March 4
Intimidation

Intimidation email is sent regarding agenda vote at 3/1 meeting.

March 2
Vote Ignored

Stipends are still mailed to Executive Officers.

March 1
Stipend Vote

Board of Directors votes to pause stipends for statewide officers, pending review, to protect the use of member dues.

February 23
Stipends?

Erin Foote, VP for Organizing, raises questions about stipends for statewide officers.

February 11
Labor Reps?

Letters sent to BU 7 & 9 Councils after resolutions are drafted inquiring about the reassignment of our campus Labor Reps from Representation to Organizing without consulting chapter leadership.

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