In a repeat of the strike this past fall, the 14,000 research, technical and health-care professionals represented by UPTE-CWA, have announced a strike for March 20. The 25,000 members of AFSCME 3299’s patient-care unit, who are also negotiating a contract with UC, will honor the picket line and walk out in solidarity.
This will be the third time these unions have struck in the past year. After 22 months of bargaining, UC and the unions have not been able to come to an agreement. The union is striking because it feels UC has not moved on their offer, which they consider substantially less generous than UC recently agreed to with the nurses union and less generous than what UC has done for top executives in recent years.
The board of the Davis Faculty Association expresses support for the upcoming strike and encourages members and non-members to express their support in whatever way they deem appropriate.
At a minimum, the unions would welcome DFA members and UCD faculty on their picket lines and at any demonstrations organized. If you need to come to campus but wish to show support, you can:
Hold class on the picket line or in another alternate off-campus location, as long as accessibility is assured for all students.
Teach the issues, much as you would any other important current event that you might address in your class: instruct students in what a labor union is, what kind of work UPTE and AFSCME 3299 members perform to sustain the university and hospitals, how a strike happens and what it means.
Express solidarity with the unions. Tag them in social media posts and use these hashtags: #3299Strong, #inequality, #UCUnionsUnited, #solidarity.
More information about the bargaining and strike is available in coverage from the Sacramento Bee and from the Daily Bruin.