The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
The University of California’s largest union announced Thursday they will strike for five straight days next month, their third and longest strike in less than a year.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299 union said its service workers will strike from March 3-7 to call for higher wages and increased staffing levels, the two issues it still has not settled with the University after more than a year of collective bargaining.
AFSCME 3299 represents about 8,300 UC service workers, including gardeners, custodians, bus drivers and food service workers. Some of the union’s about 13,000 patient care workers will also strike next month in solidarity with their service worker colleagues.
“After more than a year of good faith bargaining, this is not where we’d hoped to be,” said Jose Mendez, an AFSCME 3299 bargaining team member, in a statement released Thursday. “Unfortunately, UC’s refusal to support reasonable proposals that protect those who do the most physically demanding labor at UC from injury on the job and poverty at home has left us with no choice.”
The union has argued that many of its members qualify for public assistance and that the UC should give them higher pay to have a decent living. The University has said it offers AFSCME service workers pay that is competitive for their professions. The University has offered a 3 percent wage increase for AFSCME service workers this year and 3.5 percent increases for the next three years, but AFSCME declined the UC’s offer.
The union also said the University must improve staffing levels and alleged that workplace injuries among its service workers increased by 20 percent over the past five years. The University has said it complies with all regulations and that it would have been fined if it did not meet workplace safety standards.
The University is “very disappointed” with AFSCME’s decision to strike, considering that there is a bargaining session scheduled for next week, said UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein. She added the UC has bargained in good faith with AFSCME and offered an unprecedented freeze on health care rates in addition to wage increases. She said the University has reached agreements with seven other unions since October.
“Their last two strikes have benefited nobody, and their third strike will be equally detrimental,” Klein said. “Our offer is still on the table and we have continued scheduling these sessions, and yet they’ve called for this strike.”
For each day AFSCME strikes, Klein said it costs the UC about $10 million.
The University had previously asked AFSCME to call off its strike vote and tell its members about what the UC is offering them, since the University is not allowed to speak directly to AFSCME members.
AFSCME went on strike twice last year. In May, its patient care workers went on strike for two days and cost the UCLA Health System $5 million. In November, AFSCME members went on a one-day strike, which cost the UCLA Health System $2.5 million.
Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff.
Correction: The previous version of this article contained incorrect information regarding exchanges between the University and AFSCME pertaining the UC’s contract offer.