Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job Wednesday as a multi-day strike began over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions.
Two different labor unions are leading the strikes — around 37,000 UC service and patient care workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME) will hold a two-day strike, with picketing taking place at all 10 UC campuses and at UC medical facilities statewide.
Nearly 20,000 UC health care, research and technical workers represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 (UPTE-CWA) will hold a three-day strike.
The overlapping strikes could have significant consequences for patients and affect operations at hospitals, clinics and research facilities.
AFSCME’s contract with the university expired in 2024 and negotiations on a new deal have been ongoing for the past year. UPTE-CWA’s contract expired at the end of October 2024, and negotiations have been ongoing for eight months, according to the union.
“We want a fair contract,” said Jesse Hernandez, a UC worker on strike. “That’s all we’re asking for — nothing more, nothing less.”
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Members of University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 and AFSCME Local 3299 protest in front of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP) -
Union member Priscilla Alvarado chants while protesting with University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 and AFSCME Local 3299 in front of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP) -
University of California, Riverside staff members strike over unfair labor practices as members of AFSCME 3299, representing UC service and patient care workers picket along campus on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Riverside, Calif. (Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP) -
ORANGE, CA – February 26: A union member leads chants while protesting with University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 and AFSCME Local 3299 in front of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, CA on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. More than 57,000 University of California employees represented by two labor unions went on strike at research labs and medical facilities across the 10-campus system beginning Wednesday, Feb. 26. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) -
ORANGE, CA – February 26: Members of University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 protest in front of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, CA on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. More than 57,000 University of California employees represented by two labor unions went on strike at research labs and medical facilities across the 10-campus system beginning Wednesday, Feb. 26. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) -
Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job on Feb. 26, 2025 as a multi-day strike begins over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. (KTLA) -
University of California, Riverside staff members strike over unfair labor practices as members of UPTE (University Professional and Technical Employees) and AFSCME 3299, representing UC service and patient care workers, march together across campus on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Riverside, Calif. (Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP) -
WESTWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 20: Workers picket in front of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, CA on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 during a two-day strike by patient care and service workers alleging unfair bargaining tactics by the University of California, allegations the UC system denies (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
WESTWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 20: Workers picket in front of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, CA on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 during a two-day strike by patient care and service workers alleging unfair bargaining tactics by the University of California, allegations the UC system denies (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job on Feb. 26, 2025 as a multi-day strike begins over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. (KTLA) -
Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job on Feb. 26, 2025 as a multi-day strike begins over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. (KTLA) -
Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job on Feb. 26, 2025 as a multi-day strike begins over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. (KTLA) -
Union members protest in front of UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP) -
Nearly 60,000 University of California workers walked off the job on Feb. 26, 2025 as a multi-day strike begins over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. (KTLA)
Workers said they want the UC system to address the cost of living with fair wages and what they say is a staffing crisis that threatens patient care and critical research.
“We see, for example, chancellors receiving raises on top of raises,” Hernandez said. “But what [workers] see are people living paycheck to paycheck. We see people who can’t afford their rent increases.”
“It’s all a waiting game and we don’t have time for hardship,” said Jeanette Obeji, a worker on strike. “We don’t have patience for less money in our pockets.”
AFSCME representatives said, “With real wages declining and the cost of living skyrocketing, more than 13,000 UC service and patient care workers have left their jobs over the last four years.”
Both labor unions claimed the university has failed to bargain in good faith, alleging that UC officials have attempted to silence workers from protesting.
“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,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant. “UC’s blatantly illegal actions are interfering with workers’ free speech. It’s time the University started listening to us and engaging in constructive negotiations rather than intimidation tactics. That’s why workers will exercise their legal right to strike.”
UC representatives denied those allegations while saying they’ve reached out and offered wage increases to which union officials have not responded.
The university’s proposal would offer workers a 5% wage increase in 2025 and 3% in the contract’s second and third years. The wages of lower-paid employees would also increase to at least $25 an hour by July 1.
UC officials issued a statement saying the university is “disappointed” in the unions’ decision to strike while also denying claims of a staffing shortage, saying, “This claim has no truth, and continuing to repeat it does not make it true.”
“We have also continuously bargained in good faith and are disappointed that AFSCME and UPTE remain unwilling to do the same,” the university said. “UPTE, who began strike preparations the same month contract negotiations began, failed to attend the most recent bargaining session and declared an impasse before responding to our offers.
AFSCME has not responded to the University’s proposals or counterproposals since May 2024. While both AFSCME and UPTE may say they want UC to return to the table, the successful resolution of these contracts depends on their willingness to engage in productive bargaining. The University will do everything possible to ensure strike impacts on patients, students, faculty, and staff are mitigated.”
