UPTE-CWA 9119, AFSCME unions cite UC's "unfair labor practices" in May 1 strikes

UPTE has agreed to return to the bargaining table on May 8 and 9 after receiving an improved proposal from UC on reclassification, according to the union. Image credit: UPTE-CWA9119

Members of UPTE-CWA 9119 and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) unions are holding unfair labor practice strikes at all University of California (UC) locations on May 1.^1,2 The strikes follow UC’s hiring freeze implemented on March 19.¹

UPTE has agreed to return to the bargaining table on May 8 and 9 after receiving an improved proposal from UC on reclassification, according to the union.³ Additionally, the UC’s “last, best, and final” contract proposals were offered to employees represented by AFSCME that was sent on April 30.⁴ UC, UPTE, and AFSCME have been bargaining since January 2024.⁴

After UC implemented its hiring freeze, UPTE submitted a cease and desist and demand to bargain. According to the union, UC would not undo the hiring freeze and thus did not reach their terms to negotiate. “Despite our repeated outreach and willingness to negotiate, UPTE continues to decline our invitations to return to the bargaining table,” UC said in a statement.⁵

UPTE stated that the freeze had been implemented without providing the union notice, which did not allow an opportunity to bargain regarding the freeze.¹ UC stated that the freeze only applied to future hires and would not impact the employment status of current UC employees.

“UC continues to act with impunity, and we can’t let them get away with it – especially when the hiring freeze and leaving workers at new hospitals behind will only worsen already dire conditions for patients, students, and research,” the union said in a statement released on April 15. “UC executives’ refusal to protect frontline staff and essential services makes our campaign even more important.”

UC has agreed to UPTE’s proposal for an initial response to reclassification requests within 90 days, which UPTE calls “a significant improvement from having no timeline in our current contract and UC’s initial proposal of 210 days.” UPTE claims that UC has otherwise not agreed to address “the lack of clear and objective criteria or an enforceable appeals process: UC still proposes unilateral control over the criteria and decision for reclassification.” The union also stated that more time off, improved job security, and fair pay have not been adequately addressed by UC and that the university is still proposing the right to increase healthcare premiums without limit.³

AFSCME last, best, and final contact proposals

According to a news release, the last, best, and final offer (LBFO) meets the union’s original demand of $25 an hour and a 5% wage increase. The offer is projected to raise AFSCME salaries to more than $3 billion by the end of the proposed 5-year contract, representing an increase of nearly $600 in wages since the end of the last contract. The offer is also $113 million higher than UC’s initial offer made in February 2024.⁴

“Despite the challenging fiscal environment created by recent federal and state budget constraints, we remain committed to fairly compensating our dedicated workforce,” said Associate Vice President for Systemwide Labor and Employee Relations at UC Missy Matella, in the release.⁴ “This offer represents our ongoing investment in our most valuable resource—our people—while we continue to navigate budget realities.”

For current median hourly rate, ambulatory care clinics, clinical support services, and patient support services would see a 19.33% increase. Ambulatory care employee wages would increase from $39.62 to $47.27 from the current rate to year 5, clinical support services from $36.04 to $43.00, and patient support services from $37.39 to $44.61.²

“In a time of potentially catastrophic state and federal funding cuts, we have increased our last best and final offer to support UC’s workforce,” Matella said in the release.⁴ “We hope to finalize this agreement and collaboratively address other important matters, like the reduction of federal and state support.”

References:

1. UPTE is going on an unfair labor practice strike across the UC system on May 1. UPTE-CWA 9119. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://upte.org/updates/upte-is-going-on-an-unfair-labor-practice-strike-across-the-uc-system-on-may-1

2. Fact sheet: AFSCME contract negotiations. University of California. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/AFSCME%202025%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

3. Bargaining on May 8 and 9: We need to keep up the pressure! UPTE-CWA 9119. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://upte.org/news/bargaining-on-may-8-amp-9-we-need-to-keep-up-the-pressure

4. UC offers AFSCME last, best, and final contract proposals. News release. University of California. April 30, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/afscme-lbfo

5. University of California. Statement on AFSCME and UPTE bargaining. April 15, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://labor.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/statement-on-afscme-upte-may-1-strike-notice.pdf