Statement on AFSCME Vote to Strike

AFSCME's allegations of bad-faith bargaining are meritless. The University has had a robust economic proposal on the table for months which includes health care premium subsidies for lower-paid employees, 5 percent increases in 2025, and increasing the minimum wage for all employees to $25 an hour by July 1, 2025. For months, the University has waited for acknowledgment, much less counter proposals to this economic proposal and instead of countering, AFSCME declared an impasse without responding. AFSCME has not passed any counter-proposals to the University since May.

AFSCME's statements that the University has refused to bargain in good faith are unfounded, confusing and not consistent with the parties' bargaining history.

The issues AFSCME raises in its ULP are false and further, reflect issues that are endemic to the nation: increased cost of living and the economic disparities the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated.

While UC cannot bear responsibility for the enormity of the challenges, when AFSCME asked for $25 an hour and a 5 percent across-the-board raise, we said yes. AFSCME workers, on average, will have their pay increased by 26 percent over the contract's life.

AFSCME's claim regarding healthcare costs fails to acknowledge that the parties are continuing to negotiate health benefits. In the meantime, employee contribution rates have not increased. Furthermore, in the negotiation, UC has proposed premium subsidies that, if accepted by the union, would offset premium increases by as much as $6,000 per person for the contract's life.

Despite our proposals, we have heard nothing from AFSCME, not even an acknowledgment of our proposals. Negotiations require both sides to work together. We are disappointed it seems that AFSCME remains unwilling to do so.

If and when AFSCME chooses to strike, the University is prepared to make every effort to ensure the critical operations of the University system, which includes patient care, continue at a level of excellence UC patients, students, faculty and staff expect.

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