Two years into bargaining, UC service, health care workers plan open-ended strike
A union representing University of California service and health care workers plans to launch an open-ended strike next month over allegations that the university had illegally increased members’ insurance costs and refused to bargain over housing benefits.
The union said the open-ended strike, scheduled to begin May 14, would be the first of its kind at UC health systems and would impact all 10 university campuses and other facilities across the state.
“Instead of the university really bargaining in good faith, they illegally have imposed these terms that amount to pay cuts,” Michael Avant, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, said in an interview.
AFSCME Local 3299’s last contract with UC expired in July 2024. Negotiations have continued on and off in the two years since bargaining began.
In November 2024, AFSCME Local 3299 went on a multi-day strike over low wages and health care costs. The union represents roughly 40,000 UC service and patient care technical workers who work at university facilities across the state. The union represents roughly 6,000 workers at UC Davis.
UC Health cares for 2.5 million patients each year and serves Californians in 99% of the state’s ZIP codes.
Heather Hansen, a spokesperson for UC’s Office of the President, said in a statement that the university was disappointed at the union’s strike announcement.
“Given the progress at the table, an open-ended strike is unnecessary and risks disruption for patients, students, and campus operations,” Hansen said.
Last year, AFSCME Local 3299 filed two unfair labor practices against UC, alleging the university imposed contract terms that resulted in increases to members’ health care rates and refused to bargain over a proposal to provide low-wage employees with housing aid.
The union’s executive director, Liz Perlman, said AFSCME Local 3299 represents the lowest-paid workers in the university system. Members’ average salary is $62,000 a year, which she said is insufficient to afford to live in the high-cost communities where UC facilities are located.
The affordability crisis has become so acute for some members, they have been forced to sleep in cars and homeless shelters, Avant said.
“Members are on the verge of saying, ‘Do I pay for my prescription medication, or do I pay for my rent?’ ” he said.
In April 2025, UC offered AFSCME a last, best and final offer, which included a $25 minimum wage and a 5% wage increase. In the year since, negotiations have continued. Earlier this month, UC presented a revised contract to the union that included a proposed 32% wage increase between 2025 and 2029. The university’s proposal also included caps on health care premium increases.
Hansen noted that the unfair labor practices filed by the union have not been adjudicated by California’s Public Employment Relations Board and the university “categorically” disagreed with AFSCME Local 3299’s claims.
“We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and reaching an agreement as quickly as possible so employees can begin receiving these benefits,” she said.
If an agreement isn’t reached before the May start date, the strike “will go on as long as it’s needed to resolve all the issues,” Perlman said.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM.
