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UC strike averted: Service and hospital workers union reaches tentative deal for 40,000 members
AFSCME Local 3299 represents some 40,000 service and hospital workers across the UC system.
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Julie Leopo
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UC strike averted: Service and hospital workers union reaches tentative deal for 40,000 members
The workers— some of whom are parents of UC students — said their wages had failed to keep pace with inflation, and that they’d been priced out of local housing markets. Julia Barajas reports.
After reaching a tentative agreement with University of California negotiators Wednesday night, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 has canceled a strike that was set to start at all campuses on Thursday.
Why it matters
The union represents some 40,000 service and hospital workers across the UC system. Members include custodians, food service workers, patient care assistants and hospital technicians. The workers— some of whom are parents of UC students — said their wages had failed to keep pace with inflation, and that they’d been priced out of local housing markets.
The backstory
AFSCME 3299 has been negotiating with UC for over two years. Prior to the looming open-ended strike, the union had staged a two-day strike and filed unfair labor practice charges with the Public Employment Relations Board, formally accusing the UC system of violating California labor law. UC disputed the charges.
What AFSCME said: “[We] have reached a tentative agreement ... that makes historic progress and delivers long-overdue security to the frontline service and patient care professionals who make UC run,” said Michael Avant, president of AFSCME Local 3299, in an email statement. “Under the terms agreed upon [last night] the lowest paid workers in the UC system will have won their largest wage increase ever and the most affordable healthcare rates at UC.”
What UC said: In an email statement, Missy Matella, UC’s associate vice president for systemwide employee and labor relations, said: “We’re glad to have reached an agreement with AFSCME that recognizes the important work these employees do every day ... This contract delivers meaningful pay increases and addresses some of the real affordability pressures our employees are facing, while allowing us to move forward together focused on UC’s mission of patient care, teaching and research.”
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What's next
Union members will vote on ratification May 19-21. Union leaders are encouraging members to vote yes.
Editor's note: Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.
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