UC Workers Strike Over Alleged Bad-Faith Bargaining Practices

University of California Workers Embark on Strike Over Bargaining Disputes

In a significant move highlighting discontent over labor negotiations, front-line service and patient care employees at the University of California system are participating in a two-day strike. These workers, affiliated with AFSCME Local 3299, have taken this step in response to what they describe as the university's bad-faith bargaining practices.

The strike impacts over 37,000 workers spread across the university's 10 campuses and multiple medical facilities in California. Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement have been ongoing since early this year, but tensions escalated in August, leading workers to the picket lines after negotiations reached a stalemate.

With an overwhelming 99% of members voting in favor, the strike received formal authorization. This decisive action follows formal charges filed by the local union against the university, accusing it of engaging in unfair labor practices.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders expressed solidarity with the striking employees at UCLA, emphasizing the importance of respect and dignity in his remarks. "It's a fight for dignity and respect! A fight not just to get by but to get ahead," Saunders stated. "UC shouldn't expect you to take a vow of poverty on top of that. … It's time for UC to end the bad faith bargaining and to show you the dignity and respect you deserve!"

Michael Avant Jr., President of Local 3299 and an AFSCME vice president, criticized the university's handling of labor issues. According to Avant, the university's failure to address staffing shortages and affordability crises has left workers with no alternative but to strike.

Research by AFSCME highlights the severe financial challenges faced by these workers. The report indicates that over two-thirds of the workforce falls under the "low" or "very low" income categories as per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a figure that has doubled since 2017. The eligibility for federal housing assistance among these workers has nearly tripled during the same period.

The union accuses the university of punitive measures against the union and its members, including unilateral hikes in healthcare costs and withholding necessary information for effective bargaining. These actions, according to Local 3299, have exacerbated the existing financial struggles of the workers.

Avant further commented on the ongoing negotiations, stating, "For the past year, we have worked to engage in good-faith bargaining over the job quality needs of our members, and the growing staff vacancy crisis that is eroding the quality of services at UC campuses and hospitals. Instead of being a constructive and transparent partner seeking to bring us closer to agreement, UC has sought to drive us farther apart by withholding critical information, showing up unprepared and without authority to compromise, and by seeking to unilaterally impose health care cost increases that will function as a wage cut on workers already struggling to survive."

In a bid to minimize disruption, Local 3299 has restricted several critical care workers from participating in the strike and established a task force to ensure emergency patient care continues during the strike. Local 3299 represents over 37,000 service and technical care workers throughout the UC system.