Advertisement

UC Strike Quiet; Sides Differ on Effectiveness

Share
Times Staff Writer

Officials at five University of California campuses reported more canceled classes Tuesday, but no major problems on the second day of a two-day strike by lecturers and clerical workers.

The walkout by hundreds of members of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers and the Coalition of University Employees, who seek better job security and pay, came as UC and union officials met for a previously scheduled bargaining session. Another meeting is scheduled for Monday.

The strike at campuses in Irvine, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Davis was to protest what union officials say are unfair labor practices by UC. Lecturers have worked without a new contract for more than two years.

Advertisement

“The campuses are operating near normal,” UC spokesman Paul Schwartz said. “All the demonstrations have been peaceful and respectful, and students who wanted to go to class -- if they were held -- could do so without incident.”

The two sides couldn’t agree on how widely the strike affected classes.

Union spokesman Fred Glass said 1,000 to 2,000 classes were canceled over the two days -- more than 500 at UC Santa Cruz alone.

But at UC Santa Barbara, nearly all classes have been held, campus spokesman Paul Desruisseaux said. At UC Irvine, 76 classes were canceled Monday and 59 as of late Tuesday, officials said.

Advertisement