UC patient care, service workers launch two-day strike Wednesday

Thousands of patient care and service workers at UCLA, UC Irvine and other University of California campuses across the state began a two-day strike Wednesday, alleging unfair bargaining tactics that the UC system denies.

According to the AFSCME Local 3299 union, the strike includes roughly 37,000 UC workers “at every UC campus and medical facility across the state.” The strike will continue until midnight Thursday night.

“The University’s serial lawbreaking at the bargaining table means that the epidemic of understaffing at UC facilities, and the related cost of living and housing affordability crises plaguing frontline UC workers are only getting worse,” AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant said in a statement.

Patient care and service workers rally at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The protest is part of a two-day statewide work stoppage in protest of what their union calls unfair bargaining tactics by the university system, which denies the allegations...(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) — Patient care and service workers rally at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The protest is part of a two-day statewide work stoppage in protest of what their union calls unfair bargaining tactics by the university system, which denies the allegations…(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The UC system issued a statement earlier this month when the strike notice was issued, saying officials “fundamentally disagree with AFSCME’s claims of bad faith bargaining and characterization of unacceptable bargaining proposals.”

UC officials said the university and union had a robust series of meetings and exchanges of various contract proposals between January and May.

“The University’s proposals include $700 million in economic increases for AFSCME members and a direct response to what AFSCME had asked for — the greater of a $25 an hour minimum wage or a 5% across-the-board raise,” according to the UC. “Our proposals would increase AFSCME members’ pay by an average 26% over the five-year contract. We have also proposed $75 or $100 monthly credits for AFSCME members to offset employee premium increases.”

University officials said the union in May stopped responding to or acknowledging the university’s proposals. According to the university, the most recent proposal would have raised wages to $25 an hour across the system by July 1, 2025.

The union contends the university “illegally sidestepped bargaining to unilaterally increase health care costs by hundreds of dollars every month,” and also refused to provide the union with information on staff vacancies and certain finances.

Union members staged picket lines at all UC medical facilities, including on the UCLA campus and at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and at UC Irvine Medical Center.

UC officials said they have been planning for the walkout to mitigate its possible impacts and ensure no disruptions to patient care.

According to UCLA Health, employees represented by AFSCME include patient care technical employees such as radiology and emergency trauma technicians; phlebotomists; perfusionists and medical assistants, along with service employees such as custodians, security guards and food service workers.

The UC’s contract with patient care workers expired July 31, while the service workers’ contract lapsed on Oct. 31, according to the union.

Patient care and service workers rally at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The protest is part of a two-day statewide work stoppage in protest of what their union calls unfair bargaining tactics by the university system, which denies the allegations…(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Surgical techs Raul Robledo and Brittney Bautista join other patient care and service workers as they rally at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The protest is part of a two-day statewide work stoppage in protest of what their union calls unfair bargaining tactics by the university system, which denies the allegations…(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)