UC’s service and hospital workers are set to strike next month

The union that represents more than 42,000 service and hospital workers across the University of California has announced plans to stage an open-ended strike at all campuses next month, starting May 14.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local 3299 (AFSCME) has been negotiating with the university system for over two years.

The union’s membership includes custodians, food service workers, patient care assistants and hospital technicians. Members say their wages have failed to keep pace with inflation, and that they’ve been priced out of local housing markets.

Todd Stenhouse, a spokesperson for the union, underscored that strikes “ involve great sacrifice for workers.” He also noted that its members “are overwhelmingly women and people of color.”

AFSCME members “love the university,” he added. But to continue working for the UC, some workers have to drive “ three hours each way.” Other members “are sleeping in their cars or living in homeless shelters,” he said.

“To say that these workers feel undervalued and insulted would be an understatement,” Stenhouse said. “At a certain point in time, you have to just say: ‘Enough.’”

What is the basis for the strike?

The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the Public Employment Relations Board, formally accusing the UC system of violating California labor law.

AFSCME charges the university system with:

• A “refusal to bargain over housing aid for its workers.” 
• An “imposition of contract terms,” including higher health-care rates, “despite being legally required to bargain over such changes.” 

Here’s what AFSCME is bargaining for.

What is UC’s position?

In a press statement, the UC system said it has exchanged proposals on wages, health care and working conditions with the union, “reaching agreement on 26 contract articles to date.”

“ We're disappointed that AFSCME is moving toward this open-ended strike, despite the real progress that we've made at the bargaining table,” said Heather Hansen, a spokesperson for the university system.

“We recognize that many employees are facing real pressures related to housing, commuting, and the high cost of living,” she added. “That's why we've made the generous offers that we have.”

Hansen said the UC’s proposals include wage increases of 32% or more through 2029, “which means more money in the employee's pockets right away, with continued increases over time.”

The road ahead

Stenhouse said the UC system is touting “fuzzy math.” More than a third of the proposed wage increases, he said, “ are not even applicable to all workers.”

When asked about the unfair labor practice charges filed by the union, Hansen said that “just because AFSCME has filed these charges doesn't mean that [they have] merit. And we disagree with some of the characterizations that they've made.” In the end, she added, it is PERB who will decide whether the charges stand muster.

Last fall, the union staged a two-day strike. If AFSCME decides to carry out the open-ended work stoppage this spring, Hansen said, “ We have robust contingency plans in place to ensure patients, students, and staff members and faculty are minimally impacted.”

Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.