UC reaches contract agreement with 21,000 employees, averting a strike
The University of California and a union representing 21,000 health care, research and technical professionals in the UC system reached a contract agreement, averting the strike, the university and the union announced Saturday.
The University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union had been bargaining with UC for a new contract for 17 months, and the two sides had been in mediation for three weeks. After talks broke down earlier this week, UC said UPTE had resorted to mediation to re-engage with the university.
The union was scheduled to strike on Nov. 17 and 18, and was joined by more than 60,000 supporters from two additional UC unions, AFSCME 3299 and the California Nurses Assn.
Unions said it would be the largest labor strike in UC history. AFSCME 3299 represents patient care technical workers, custodians, food service workers, security guards, secretaries, and other employees at UC hospitals and campuses.
UC and UPTE said details of the interim contract, which union members must approve, will be announced next week. Before the agreement, UPTE employees had been seeking investments from the UC in retention, pay and safe working conditions to help resolve a staffing crisis that the union said “threatens patient care, student services and the research mission at the heart of the UC system.”
“The finalized agreement reflects the university’s enduring commitment and UPTE’s advocacy for our employees who play critical roles throughout the University,” said a joint statement from UC and UPTE. “Both parties acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative spirit that enabled us to move forward and reach a solution that supports our valued employees and the University of California’s mission of excellence.”
UPTE canceled the strike notice pending the membership approval vote, according to a statement from UPTE president and chief negotiator Dan Russell.
“Our interim agreement is a hard-won victory for the 21,000 healthcare, research and technical professionals at UC and will benefit millions of UC patients and students, as well as people around the world who benefit from UC’s cutting-edge research,” Russell said. “We continue to stand with AFSCME and CNA members as they strike and fight for a similar agreement for their members.”
Meredith Turner, UC’s senior vice president for external affairs and communications, said the agreement was the result of “constructive dialogue and a shared commitment to finding common ground while maintaining fiscal responsibility in uncertain times.”
Turner had opposed the strike before: video notification He posted online on Thursday saying the UC was “disappointed, but not surprised that UPTE has once again chosen disruption over dialogue.”
He said UC negotiated in good faith and offered “real improvements, meaningful raises, strong benefits and fair working conditions that reflect how much we value our employees.”
UPTE had conducted three statewide strikes previously this year, in addition to a fourth strike last November that was limited to UC San Francisco.
