UC Workers Vote to OK Strike

Cooks, custodians and other service workers at the University of California have authorized their union to call a strike if negotiations for a new contract are not resolved to their liking, union leaders announced Wednesday.

In a weeklong balloting process that ended Wednesday, 92% of service workers who participated voted for a strike if their now-stalled talks with the university reach a final impasse, according to organizers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The union represents 7,000 service workers at UC campuses and medical centers.

The union did not release the number of workers who voted. While a strike is not imminent, the result “shows how disrespected and angry people feel right now,” said Nicole Moore, a union representative at UCLA.

Talks between the service workers’ union and the university reached an impasse in January, mostly over wages and health insurance costs.

A state mediator has sent the dispute to fact-finding. UC, stressing the tight state budget, says it has offered service workers pay raises of 2% next year and 3% for each of the following two years.

Several other employee groups, including those representing clerical workers and nurses, are also in negotiations with the university for new contracts.

UC spokesman Noel Van Nyhuis said the university hoped to avoid a strike with its service workers. “Our focus is on negotiations and coming to a fair agreement,” he said.