We fundamentally disagree with AFSCME’s claims of bad faith bargaining and characterization of unacceptable bargaining proposals. From January to May, University of California and AFSCME bargaining teams met 22 times and worked collaboratively on proposals for the UC AFSCME-represented employees. UC offered AFSCME 26 proposals and 36 counterproposals, while AFSCME presented 42 proposals and only three counterproposals. The University’s proposals include $700 million in economic increases for AFSCME members and a direct response to what AFSCME had asked for the greater of a $25 an hour minimum wage or a 5 percent across-the-board raise. Our proposals would increase AFSCME members’ pay by an average 26 percent over the five-year contract. We have also proposed $75 or $100 monthly credits for AFSCME members to offset employee premium increases. Despite AFSCME’s allegations, AFSCME represented employees’ health care premiums, which have not changed and will not potentially change until contracts are finalized. For more information, please see our recent media statement on this topic.
Collaboration ceased in May when AFSCME stopped responding or even acknowledging the University’s proposals, including the University’s most recent economic proposal which raised wages to $25 an hour across the institution by July 1, 2025. Despite this economic proposal, AFSCME declared impasse without responding and despite our clear willingness to continue to negotiate contract terms. PERB-mandated mediation was canceled after just a day and a half, and the parties are set to present their proposals to a three-person fact-finding panel on Nov.18 and 19. The university is dedicated to working in good faith through these impasse procedures to reach a fair agreement supporting these valued employees. During AFSCME’s last round of bargaining with UC, the union went on strike six times.
Thus, AFSCME’s strike notice is not a surprise, but it is premature and is a disheartening development, nonetheless.
As many of AFSCME employees’ work impacts patient care, the University of California Office of the President is working closely with UC Health System leadership to mitigate the potential impacts of a strike and ensure the critical operations of the University system, including patient care, continue at the level of excellence UC patients, students, faculty, and staff expect and deserve.
The UC Health System is California’s public academic health system educating the next generation of health care professionals and delivering care for all Californians, including providing complex health care services that are limited or not available through other health systems. If access to the critical services and procedures that UC Health’s locations deliver is disrupted, care could be jeopardized for Californians, especially those who are the most vulnerable.
We remain willing and open to meeting with AFSCME to negotiate the terms of their contract, and we are hopeful of a quick resolution.