UC service and hospital workers launch two-day strike over contract talks

Nearly 40,000 University of California workers began a two-day strike Wednesday to protest what they claim is bad faith bargaining by university negotiators as the two sides try to hammer out new labor agreements.

The work stoppage, which affects service and patient care workers at all UC campuses and medical facilities, will continue until 11:59 p.m. Thursday. AFSCME Local 3299, the union representing the workers, and the university system have been in talks over new contracts for nearly a year.

“Instead of being a constructive and transparent partner seeking to bring us closer to agreement, UC has sought to drive us farther apart,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant in a statement. “By failing to meet its most basic legal responsibilities to the dedicated professionals who clean its facilities, serve students food, and treat its patients, UC has left workers with no choice but to exercise their legal right to strike.”

University officials disputed the union’s allegations, saying in a statement that they “fundamentally disagree with AFSCME’s claims of bad faith bargaining and characterization of unacceptable bargaining proposals.”

Negotiators for the two sides met more than 20 times between January and May and university officials presented the union with dozens of proposals and counterproposals, the university said.

“Collaboration ceased in May when AFSCME stopped responding or even acknowledging the university’s proposals,” the statement said.

The university system said its proposals would raise wages to $25 an hour by July 1, 2025, and increase union members’ pay by an average of 26% over a five-year contract.

Union members authorized the strike, with 99% voting in support of it weeks after filing a complaint with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board alleging bad faith bargaining. Avant described the university’s actions as “serial lawbreaking at the bargaining table.”

The existing contract for patient care workers, who assist medical staff with everyday patient-related tasks, expired on July 31, the union said. Service workers, who support campuses and medical centers with custodial and other services, saw their contract expire Oct. 31. The university system employs about 11,000 service workers and 22,000 patient care employees.

Union members plan to picket at campuses on both days of the strike. On Wednesday outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, a crowd of union members rang cowbells and held green-and-white signs that read “On Strike.” Many arrived around 6 a.m. and remained on the picket lines all day.

“I’m striking because they have not bargained with us in good faith and due to that our healthcare has gone up,” said union steward Rosalbo Montoya, who has worked at the hospital as a medical assistant for 27 years. Montoya said she and many of her colleagues are worried about being able to afford medications.

“The university has been disrespectful during bargaining,” she said. “They’ve left early, come unprepared and acted like they didn’t care.”

Jacob Nilescreer, a clinical equipment specialist and member of the union bargaining team, said addressing the raise in healthcare costs is a priority for many union members. Wearing a colorful AFSCME Pride shirt, Nilescreer spent all day on the picket lines and said the university’s claims about negotiations were inaccurate.

“The university unilaterally decided to raise healthcare rates without negotiation or bargaining,” he said. “Some of our members are just barely getting by and we had to do something.”