East County commuters faced backups on I-8 near San Diego State University on Tuesday as a four-day Teamsters strike impacted traffic flow, according to an alert sent by SDSU.

Teamsters Local 2010 is holding an unfair labor practice strike at 22 California State University campuses, including SDSU and Cal State San Marcos. While campuses remain open, motorists heading west through the area are advised to allow extra travel time or plan alternate routes.

The 1,100 skilled trades workers — including plumbers, electricians, and maintenance staff — are protesting what they call CSU's failure to honor contractual obligations. According to the union, CSU refused to provide step increases agreed upon in July 2025 and has engaged in bad faith bargaining.

The dispute centers on how to interpret contract language that grants raises if the state fully funds the university system. Teamsters argue CSU is fully funded thanks to a $144 million zero-interest loan included in the state budget, while university leaders say they can't commit to ongoing raises based on a one-time loan. CSU is instead offering a one-time 3% bonus.

The strike is expected to continue through Thursday. Santee residents who commute to or through the SDSU area should plan accordingly for potential delays during peak travel times.