40,000 UC workers gird for a strike, disrupting medical services, cafeterias at all campuses
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Over 40,000 University of California workers, including patient transport staff, nursing aides, custodians, and dining hall employees, are preparing to strike Thursday if contract negotiations fail to meet demands for better wages, lower healthcare costs, and housing support.
- The strike threatens to disrupt medical appointments and campus dining services across all UC campuses and medical centers, though hospitals will remain open with contingency plans in place to minimize impact.
- The union, AFSCME Local 3299, accuses UC of misrepresenting wage increase proposals and failing to address housing affordability, highlighting that many workers struggle with rising costs and stagnant real wages over the past decade.
- UC has offered up to 34% pay increases over three years, ratification bonuses, and caps on healthcare premium hikes, but union leaders argue these offers do not adequately cover the majority of members or address housing concerns.
- The labor dispute follows two complaints filed by the union alleging UC refused to bargain on housing issues and imposed unilateral changes to wages and healthcare without proper negotiation, with no ruling yet from the state labor board.