AFSCME 3299 and UPTE are going on strike this week in response to unfair labor practices by the UC. These two unions represent over 57,000 critical frontline workers in the UC system, including dining, custodial, transit, and grounds workers (AFSCME) and research, technical and healthcare professionals working in units like ITS, CAPS, Student Health and research labs (UPTE) here at UCSC. These workers all play an absolutely vital role in the university and faculty could not do our jobs without them. They deserve fair contracts that allow them to work with dignity and to afford to live where they work. We encourage you to learn more about their struggle by reading the call for solidarity from the UCSC local of UPTE, AFSCME’s press release, and the two union’s comparisons of their bargaining positions with the offers being made by the university (AFSCME, UPTE).
The striking unions are asking for our solidarity in the following ways:
- Support the picket line in whatever ways you feel are appropriate, and support others in your workplace who choose to do so. Come to the picket line at the Main Entrance of campus anytime after 7:00 am each day. If you can only be there a short time, come to the daily rallies at 12:30, starting with the kick-off rally on Wednesday, February 26.
- Call Chancellor Larive (831-459-4291) and President Drake (510-987-9200), and urge them to settle all outstanding contracts with UC unions. Communicate your support for these efforts to other campus and UC leaders through whatever other means are appropriate given your position.
- Talk with others on campus and in the community – faculty, students, administrators, friends and neighbors – about why the unions are doing this, and ask them to join you in supporting UC unions by taking the steps above.
We hope to have a large SCFA presence at the kick-off rally on Wednesday (12:30, base of campus), after which we will also hold an informal meeting and open conversation amongst our members about ways we can continue to move forward together in the face of the many threats to our work as researchers and educators.
Finally, we remind you that Senate faculty have a right to honor a picket line established by other university employees and to withhold their labor. UC may withhold pay for withheld labor, but it would be unlawful for the administration to dock additional pay or take other disciplinary action against faculty for exercising their protected rights.
If you have questions about your rights or responsibilities during this strike, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at scfa.assist@gmail.com.
We hope to see many of you on Wednesday at 12:30.