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The California Faculty Association and other campus unions have reached a settlement with the California State University system over the release of private employee information, closing a lawsuit that exposed fault lines between federal investigations and worker privacy across the nation’s largest public university system.

The agreement stems from events last fall, when Cal State LA turned over private employee data to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before unions or workers had the opportunity to contest or respond to the federal order.

A Settlement That Reaches Beyond One Campus

The CFA and CSU private information lawsuit settlement applies not only to Cal State LA, but to all 23 campuses and every CSU employee statewide.

Under the terms, CSU must notify employees “as soon as reasonably practical before complying” with any future subpoenas tied to the EEOC’s investigation into alleged antisemitism on CSU campuses, according to a statement released by the CFA.

While Cal State LA remains the only campus to have received a direct EEOC subpoena, antisemitism complaints are active at 21 other CSU campuses. The status of any systemwide EEOC investigation has not been disclosed.

Legal Backbone: A 1977 Privacy Law

The settlement is anchored in the California Information Practices Act of 1977, which defines personal information broadly as data that “identifies or describes an individual.”

That definition includes names, Social Security numbers, physical descriptions, home addresses and phone numbers, as well as education, financial records, medical histories, employment records and statements attributed to individuals.

To union leaders, the law served as a shield — one they argued had been lowered too quickly when Cal State LA complied with the subpoena.

Unions Involved, Voices Quiet

In addition to the CFA, the lawsuit included the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Workers of America Local 4123, which represents more than 10,000 CSU teaching associates, graduate assistants and instructional student assistants.

Teamsters Local 2010 joined the case after the initial filing in October 2025. Neither union responded to requests for comment following the settlement.

CSU Response: Cooperation Without Courtroom Combat

The CSU did not answer direct questions from The University Times, but issued a public statement welcoming the resolution.

The system said it was “pleased to have worked closely with the CFA to resolve litigation without further court involvement.”

“This agreement reinforces the CSU’s longstanding commitment to employee privacy, transparency and compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including lawful subpoenas,” the statement said.