The fight between the University of California and its largest union rages on.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has called for a strike authorization vote of its 22,000 members for Oct. 28-30.

The vote follows the California Public Employment and Relations Board’s decision to file an unfair labor practices charge against UC last month. It was based on AFSCME complaints of threatening and intimidating behavior during a two-day health care worker strike in May.

“UC hasn’t backed away from its bullying even after the State Labor Board charged UC with being a serial law-breaker,” Local 3299 president Kathryn Lybarger said in a news release. “(An unfair labor practice) strike is the only way to even the playing field and hold UC accountable for attacking the rights of its devoted career workers.”

UC spokeswoman Shelly Meron said Wednesday that “nobody wants a strike to happen.”

“UC values its employees and we are eager to resume talks with AFSCME. We hope that they’ll come back to the bargaining table,” she said in an email message.

New UC President Janet Napolitano has extended an invitation to meet with both the local and international AFSCME leadership of AFSCME, as part of her outreach efforts to different constituencies at UC, Merons said. Such a meeting would not be a collective bargaining session.

The union says the university’s actions tell a different story than its words.

In July, UC announced that it would impose its final offer on the more than 12,000 hospital patient workers represented by the union. They include respiratory therapists, nursing aides and surgical technicians, as well as security guards and other hospital employees at UC’s five medical centers and student health centers.

Then, last month, the university announced it also would impose a final offer on 8,300 gardeners, food service workers and custodians — also represented by AFSCME.

Both came after a year of failed contract negotiations.

Patient-care workers received a step increase of 2 percent, as well as a 1.5 percent wage increase on Oct. 1. The service workers received a 2 percent wage increase July 1. Both sets of workers received 5 percent raises each of the past two years.

UC has blamed the impasses on the union’s refusal to accept pension reform. In both cases, UC imposed a new pension and retiree health benefits program that includes an increase in the university’s contribution from 10 to 12 percent and an employee contribution increase from 5 to 6.5 percent.

Eight other unions have agreed to similar changes, which also apply to non-union staff and faculty. The state has taken similar steps for its employees.

The union has sought to spotlight the salaries of UC leaders. It also has called for a cap on their pensions, which can reach as high as $300,000 annually.

Comments

comments