The Gustine Unified School District and its California Schools Employees Association, Gustine Unified Chapter 539, are set to begin negotiations following Board of the Trustees approval of the Sunshine Proposals for the 2026-27 school year.

The union is proposing changes to the language in the hours and overtime, working conditions and health and welfare section of its contract, according to the agenda document. GUSD, in response, offered changes to articles centered on evaluations and vacation policy. The vacation policy proposal will include a procedure that requires 12-month employees to submit their anticipated vacation requests ahead of a school year.

Both parties previously came to a three-year collective bargaining agreement in April, where CSEA members received a 2% salary increase. Prior to that, the union secured a 1.84% salary increase.

Another clause in the contract was that both parties could negotiate two changes at most to the sections in the agreement through 2026-27 and 2027-28. Discussions on technology and artificial intelligence and cell phones were held off for future sessions.

In June 2025, both parties reached a tentative agreement that included the CSEA receiving a salary increase and an $500 increase employee contribution plan for 2025-26 school year. GUSD will contribute $250 each this and school years.