The University of California — a system of six academic health centers and four children’s hospital campuses — and a union representing 21,000 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and healthcare, research and technical employees have reached a labor contract, the union and university said in a joint Nov. 8 announcement.
The University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 and the university reached the agreement after 17 months of bargaining and three weeks of mediation. After talks broke down last week, UPTE requested to resume mediation, the university said.
UPTE, which has held multiple strikes this year, had planned to strike Nov. 17-18 with two other unions. As a consequence of this agreement, UPTE will not participate in the strike as its members prepare to vote on the new contract, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Two other unions are still slated to walk out Nov. 17-18: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents more than 40,000 UC Health service and technician workers such as custodians, food service workers and patient care assistants; and the California Nurses Association, which represents 25,000 UC nurses.
Union members cited rising inflation outpacing wages — leading to worker attrition — and ongoing staffing concerns as key reasons for the strike. The university has called the strike “an attempt to pressure the university into accepting unreasonable wage and benefit demands that would put UC in a financially precarious position and jeopardize its mission of teaching, research and public service.”
In their Nov. 8 joint statement, UPTE and the university said the new agreement “reflects the university’s enduring commitment and UPTE’s advocacy for our employees who play critical roles across the University. This outcome was the result of constructive dialogue and a shared commitment to finding common ground while maintaining financial responsibility in uncertain times.
“Both parties acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative spirit that allowed us to move forward and reach a resolution that supports our valuable employees and the University of California’s mission of excellence.”
Details of the tentative contract are slated to be released this week, UPTE and the university said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
