UC workers on strike following an impasse in bargaining

Union members participated a multi-day strike near the end of February to voice their concerns on negotiations

Staff Writer

Starting February 26th, thousands of technical workers from two unions—American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME Local 3299) and the University Professional Technical Employees CWA Local 9119 (UPTE CWA 9119)—began striking after negotiations with UC failed to produce an agreement. AFSCME Local 3299 members took to the streets for two days and UPTE CWA 9119 members for three.

The unions represent thousands of UC employees, including pharmacists and mental health workers who, according to ABC News, went on strike over alleged unfair labor practices, staffing shortages, and compensation-related disagreements.

This strike came after the UC proposed wage increases that were not accepted by the unions. Per KQED reporting, the unions suggested that the wage increases proposed did not accurately reflect the increased cost of living, leading to them deem the proposals as insufficient.

The issue of short-staffing is contested between strikers and the UC. While UC Chief Financial Officer Nathan Brostrom warned in 2023 that the rate of unfilled positions had tripled after COVID, the UC Office of the President denied this claim. According to KQED, “[The office of the President] said university data indicates that the headcount of UPTE [CWA 9119] members has increased and turnover rates are flattening.”

ABC News reported that Michael Avant, the President of AFSCME Local 3299, said, “Instead of addressing the decline in real wages that has fueled the staff exodus at UC Medical Centers and campuses at the bargaining table, UC has chosen to illegally implement arbitrary rules aimed at silencing workers who are raising concerns while limiting their access to union representatives.” The unions call for more transparency in such matters, alongside filling the alleged vacancies and providing higher wages.

However, in a statement, the university claims it has been the unions who have been negotiating in bad faith, beginning preparations for a strike early on in the negotiating process and refusing to consider proposals put forth by UC. “The [UC] will do everything possible to ensure strike impacts on patients, students, faculty and staff are mitigated,” it said in a statement.

Representatives from AFSCME Local 3299, UPTE CWA 9119, and the UC Office of the President did not respond to the Eagle Era’s request for comment for this story.

Reva Gokhale (AHS Class of 2023) is a UC Berkeley sophomore who has seen the strikes impact the campus by modifying the bus schedule. “I think that definitely impacted a lot of students, but no one that I know was upset about it. I understand what [the unions are] protesting for is important. They are simply exercising their fundamental rights—to not stand for what they consider to be unfair working conditions,” said Gokhale. “I think that this attitude is quite reflective of the general student population.”

The strikes were high-energy at the UCLA campus. “I think that as a student, it’s inspiring to me to see my peers, my professors, and my campus community stand up for protecting people’s rights,” said Gokhale (Photo Credit: The Daily Bruin).