Quick Take
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.
Leaders from the University of California and a union representing about 40,000 workers reached a tentative agreement just as an open-ended strike was set to begin Thursday morning.
The union represents custodians, bus drivers, dining service staff, nurses aides and radiology technologists, including 530 workers at UC Santa Cruz.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 officials celebrated the agreement as an historic win with increased wages, caps on healthcare premium increases and expanded leave and breaks.
Union president Michael Avant encouraged union members to vote yes during their ratification vote next Tuesday through Thursday, May 19-21.
“Under the terms agreed upon tonight, the lowest paid workers in the UC system will have won their largest wage increase ever and the most affordable healthcare rates at UC, alongside strong staffing and workplace safety protections,” he said, in a statement. “It means UC’s most vulnerable workers will no longer have to choose between paying for healthcare and paying for groceries.”
UC and AFSCME officials started bargaining in January 2024, and after the union filed unfair labor practices charges, it announced a strike last month. Union officials accused the university system of bad-faith bargaining after they say it refused to bargain over housing benefits and also accused the UC of raising healthcare costs without bargaining over new rates.
Despite the planned strike, UC and AFSCME continued negotiating, with their most recent bargaining sessions occurring Tuesday and through late Wednesday.
Missy Matella, UC’s associate vice president for systemwide employee and labor relations, said in a statement that the agreement “recognizes the important work these employees do every day across UC’s campuses and health centers.”
“This contract delivers meaningful pay increases and addresses some of the real affordability pressures our employees are facing, while allowing us to move forward together focused on UC’s mission of patient care, teaching and research,” she said.
The agreement proposes increasing the minimum hourly wage – which was increased to $25 last year – to $26.50 this year and increasing it annually until reaching $30.10 by April 2029. All non-probationary career workers will receive a $1,500 one-time payment and parking rate increases will be capped. If approved by members, the new contract will expire Nov. 30, 2029.
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