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.
