In an unfair labor practice charge, members of AFSCME Local 3299 accuse the university of workplace retaliation, threats of police citation and other actions that interfere with workers’ rights, according to a union news release.
“As UC’s employees have worked to voice concerns over outsourcing and income inequality over the last several months, the University of California has worked even harder to unlawfully silence those voices,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “Through illegal actions, UC has trampled state law and created an unwelcoming workplace that undermines workers’ ability to exercise their rights.”
The strike comes after university professional and technical employees walked off the job March 20. Members of AFSCME Local 3299 joined that strike in sympathy.
Claire Doan, spokesperson with the university’s office of the president, called the union’s labor practice charge “nothing more than a blatant attempt to justify yet another strike.”
The university has focused on reaching an agreement and offered several competitive proposals that have been rejected by union leaders, Ms. Doan stated via email.
“AFSCME leaders claim they want fairness, while asking for nearly triple the raises UC has given to other employees. Their unreasonable demand of an 8 percent annual wage increase would cost this taxpayer-funded university hundreds of millions over the life of the contracts, beyond the significant amount we have already offered in raises,” she stated.
The strike will take place at the university’s 10 campuses and five medical centers.
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