State seeking to avert UC strike
State officials are expected in court today to try to avert a five-day strike by University of California service workers.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 20,000 workers at the university’s 10 campuses and hospitals, called for a walkout by 8,500 custodians, cafeteria workers, security guards and groundskeepers to begin Monday.
The state Public Employment Relations Board, in response to a complaint from the university, is seeking a restraining order to stop the strike, said Nicole Savickas, a spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President.
The board claims that the union is endangering public health by encouraging the 11,500 university healthcare workers it also represents to honor the picket lines.
“It’s sad. The university would rather spend millions on court costs than spend the money on our workers who are living in poverty,” said Lakesha Harrison, president of AFSCME Local 3299.
She said 96% of the service workers are eligible for public assistance.
“We’re doing what we can to address salary inequities, but we’re limited by state funding,” Savickas said.
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-- Gale Holland
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