I am back at work after a very successful three day strike (October 23-25) with AFSCME 3299. Workers took a stand for issues regarding pay raises, racial inequality, and the outsourcing of labor. For UPTE-CWA, it was historical as it was our largest strike ever.
Markets on campus were closed down, surgeries were delayed, and appointments had to be rescheduled. It was delightfully surprising to have young students inquire and participate in our strike, demonstrating their support.
UC has an offer with the CNA for annual raises of 3% a year for four years with step increases, which brings the total wage increase up to 23% for the life of the four-year contract. However, UC offers UPTE and AFSCME less, perpetuating inequality and distrust. UC spokesperson, Claire Doan, claims that the strike has not brought them closer to an agreement, stating that progress can only be made at the bargaining table, contradicting their actions with our bargainers in the past as they have repeatedly walked away from the table! Of course, UC will put out their spin on reality, holding on to alternative facts.
Kate Bronfenbrenner, a director of labor education research at Cornell University, believes UC needs “to serve patients and the needs of a teaching hospital. As a teaching hospital, a strike causes uncertainty for the future of the students who are trying to fulfill the requirements of their residencies. They have to get a certain number of hours. That puts pressure on them.” She believes that UC needs to listen to the union members as enough of the workers have showed enough solidarity to send a message that they are united in their opposition to their employer’s contract terms.
The truth of the matter is UC has not been working for the interest of their employees, patients, researchers, or even students. Over the years, they have been admitting more international students to get more money as they pack the students into small spaces, three to a tiny room, lowering their quality of life. With workers, UC wants to bring up healthcare premiums, parking fees, erode pensions, outsource jobs, dumb down credentials, push the retirement age so people can work older while they get less! UC’s spin is no different from the spin coming off from the White House, and we are living in times where people are waking up to the lies, the inequality, the injustice, and the the greed.
As UC tries to minimize the impact of our historic strikes, we continue to stand strong in solidarity while we fight for a UC for the Many, not the few!