These workers seem to go on strike every other year or so. It’s like clockwork.

NBC San Diego reports:

Thousands of University of California workers start multi-day strike

Nearly 60,000 University of California workers represented by a pair of unions went on strike Wednesday amid continuing contract negotiations, with both unions alleging unfair labor practices and the university accusing them of spreading misinformation and failing to negotiate in good faith.

Roughly 37,000 UC service and patient care workers represented by AFSCME Local 3299 will take part in a two-day strike, with picketing anticipated at all 10 UC campuses, including UC San Diego, and at UC medical facilities statewide.

“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,” AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant said in a statement announcing the strike. “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.”

The union’s contract with the university expired in 2024, and negotiations on a new deal have been ongoing for the past year.

“I really love my job, but kinda tough having to move site to site due to short staffing and whether it’s high turnover rates that we have,” said Randall Turner, a member of UPTE. “It’s San Diego. It’s a high-cost living place and everything is increasing.”

Meanwhile, roughly 20,000 UC health care, research and technical professionals represented by University Professional and Technical Employees, UPTE-CWA Local 9119, launched a three-day strike Wednesday, also impacting all UC campuses and medical centers. UPTE’s contract expired at the end of October, and negotiations have been ongoing for eight months, according to the union.

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