SAN FRANCISCO — A significant strike commenced on Wednesday as thousands of University of California employees took to the picket lines for a two-day protest against what they describe as unjust bargaining strategies employed by the university and issues related to staff shortages. The University administration, however, refutes these claims.
This labor action involves around 37,000 service and patient care personnel represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299. The strike comes on the heels of a complaint lodged by the union with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board, alleging that the university has participated in illegal bad faith bargaining practices.
In their formal complaint, AFSCME Local 3299 claimed that the university “illegally circumvented negotiations to unilaterally raise healthcare costs by hundreds of dollars each month,” failed to provide vital staffing and financial details essential for meaningful discussions, and developed a pattern of UC representatives attending bargaining sessions without proper preparation or the authority to negotiate effectively.
The university countered these accusations, emphasizing that the filing of a claim does not equate to a definitive indication of wrongdoing. “The University strongly disagrees with their allegations,” they stated in their response.
According to the university, negotiations for a new contract with AFSCME Local 3299 have been occurring since January, yet the union has not engaged with or acknowledged any proposals from the university since May. The university noted that both parties are currently in the concluding phase of the impasse process at the Public Employment Relations Board.
In an effort to address compensation concerns, the university proposed that all employees receive a minimum wage of $25 per hour starting July 1, 2025, along with a minimum pay increase of 5%. The contracts for both patient care and service workers expired on July 31 and October 31, respectively.
Michael Avant, the President of AFSCME Local 3299, remarked, “The University’s ongoing violations at the bargaining table exacerbate the pervasive understaffing crisis at UC facilities, and this, in turn, worsens the cost of living and housing issues that frontline workers face.”
In solidarity with the striking workers, another union representing approximately 4,000 healthcare, research, and technical staff at the University of California, San Francisco, also initiated a strike on Wednesday. They are seeking the university’s acknowledgment and resolution of systemic staff shortages that have led to overcrowded emergency rooms, extended wait times for patients, and delays in research initiatives.
The University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) represents a diverse group of members at UCSF, including physician assistants, pharmacists, case managers, rehabilitation specialists, clinical lab scientists, mental health professionals, and IT personnel, among others.
UPTE President Dan Russell voiced the union’s commitment to addressing these issues saying, “As patient demand increases, hospitals require additional staffing. While the UC system may not prioritize patient care, our members are dedicated to ensuring this issue is addressed and holding the university accountable.”