Staff members at Santa Cruz nonprofit The Diversity Center voted 5-2 last week to unionize, citing concerns over wages, burnout, workplace safety and protections for gender-affirming care.
Labor relations
UC, AFSCME 3299 reach tentative agreement and avert strike
The University of California and the union representing around 40,000 of its employees reached a tentative labor agreement early Thursday morning, averting a planned open-ended strike involving service and patient care workers across the UC system. The proposed contract includes wage increases, caps on healthcare premium hikes, expanded leave and workplace protections.
UC workers prepare for systemwide open-ended strike on Thursday, with local impacts to patients, buses, dining services
More than 40,000 University of California workers, including about 530 at UC Santa Cruz, are preparing for an open-ended strike beginning Thursday. Campus officials warned students and staff to expect disruptions to dining, transportation and health services.
Two Santa Cruz County teachers unions at impasse with their districts over contract negotiations
Teachers unions at Pacific Collegiate School and in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have reached an impasse with administrators after months of stalled contract negotiations over pay and benefits, moving them closer to a potential strike. The disagreements center on salary increases and a proposed cap on health benefits.
UC and graduate worker union reach agreement, averting strike
The University of California and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative four-year contract agreement covering more than 40,000 graduate student workers and staff, averting a planned strike following months of dispute over alleged unfair labor practices.
Cat & Cloud café workers move to form a union — and they won’t need an election to do it
Just two days after Cat & Cloud café workers sent a letter to the company’s owners to formally announce their intention to unionize, the employees’ union heard from the owners’ attorneys, saying they would recognize the union without an election.
Wave of California teacher strikes ‘is no coincidence’
The California Teachers Association organized to trigger a wave of negotiations and potential strikes to garner public attention and flex political muscle.
UC graduate workers, staff union authorize strike, citing unfair labor practices
More than 40,000 graduate student workers and staff across the University of California system voted to authorize a strike, accusing the university of committing multiple unfair labor practices and bargaining in bad faith as contract negotiations near a Feb. 28 expiration date.
Starbucks workers in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley join national strike
Baristas at two Starbucks locations in Santa Cruz County are walking the picket lines this week as part of a national strike as contract negotiations at the coffee giant drag on.
UCSC employees stage a two-day strike amid stalled negotiations
UC Santa Cruz employees represented by AFSCME Local 3299 are striking Monday and Tuesday, reducing dining hall hours, health appointments and bus service on campus.

