Catherwood LibraryILR School

Nearly 60,000 University of California workers are set to strike on April 1, marking the third walkout in four months over alleged unfair labor practices. The University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119 and AFSCME Local 3299 argue that UC has engaged in bad-faith bargaining and failed to address staffing shortages that impact patient care and research. UC officials counter that the strikes put financial strain on the system and insist they have offered competitive wage increases and reduced healthcare costs for lower-paid workers. Union leaders, however, say affordability issues and heavy workloads are driving employees to leave, worsening vacancies. The strike follows mounting frustration, with union protests at UC Board of Regents meetings and accusations that the university is eroding union influence.