CSU faculty remains with the university on the disclosure of personal data to federal investigators
California State University has settled a lawsuit with its faculty union that prevents the university from disclosing personal information to federal agencies investigating anti-Semitism on campus without employee knowledge, union leaders said.
The settlement requires CSU to notify employees “as soon as practicable” before complying with any subpoena for personal information, unless the notification would be illegal, according to the California Faculty Assn. statement released on Wednesday.
This personal information includes names, Social Security numbers, physical descriptions, addresses and any other identifying information, the faculty union said.
The union’s lawsuit stems from an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into employee complaints of institutional harassment at CSU, part of the Trump administration’s broader inroads into higher education. The commission, which has subpoena power, sought extensive information from all Cal State LA employees.
“We celebrate this agreement as a win that will help prevent workers from being caught by the CSU providing personal information to government agencies without knowledge of skills,” the statement said.
CSU said in a statement that “both parties have a common interest in protecting the personal information of employees and providing timely information to those most affected … We believe this agreement successfully accomplishes both.”
The EEOC was investigating Cal State LA — the only campus targeted in the investigation — as protesters set up a pro-Palestinian camp in the spring of 2024 as part of a larger wave of nationwide campus protests against Israel’s war on Gaza. The protest at Cal State LA escalated behind the student services building on campus destroyed in June of that year.
California Faculty Assn. filed a lawsuit in October in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing constitutionally guaranteed rights to privacy and the California Information Practices Act — a piece of legislation that regulates the disclosure of personal information by government agencies.
Additional CSU unions have joined the lawsuit, including United Auto Workers Local 4213, which represents education workers, and Teamsters Local 2010, which represents skilled workers.
It’s not unusual for the EEOC to request an employee’s personal information during an investigation, legal experts say The Times last year. While the organization did not seek to challenge the subpoena process directly, it grappled with the fact that the Trump administration would have access to personal information.
The student union said in a statement that “in the coming weeks,” they will seek a preliminary injunction barring any CSU disclosure of members’ personal information.
“We continue to demand that CSU administrators protect their employees and their academic freedom, and fulfill their commitment to equality,” the organization’s statement read. “We will continue to fight for our members’ lives, freedom and privacy.”
