UC Santa Barbara custodians, groundskeepers and food service workers went on a two-day strike this week as they negotiate for higher salaries to keep up with the rising cost of living.
The union for custodians, food service workers, groundskeepers, patient care assistants and hospital technicians in the University of California system, AFSCME Local 3299, went on a statewide strike Monday and Tuesday, after nearly two years of negotiations for a new contract.
The union represents nearly 65,000 workers across the UC system, and about 700 are employed at UCSB.
Francisco Garcia, a senior lead in the custodial department who has worked at UCSB for 29 years, said he’s striking to fight for higher wages.
“The university is not meeting our expectations, and they’re not giving us salaries to meet the economy around us,” Garcia said. “I think it would make a big difference if they gave us a fair contract.”
Garcia said his salary isn’t enough to keep up with the cost of housing. He said his own rent has doubled and tripled in recent years, while other employees have had to leave the university entirely for better wages.
“As a result of the housing problem, there are a lot of people living in their cars and living on the streets,” Garcia said. “Homelessness is becoming a big thing now, and I just don’t think it’s fair that the university is doing that to us.”
In July, the University of California system implemented a pay raise to $25 per hour for AFSCME employees. That term was part of UC’s final negotiation offer that was sent in April. Employees were also given $1,500 health care premium credits per year, according to Heather Hansen, senior director of labor communications for UC.
Hansen claims that AFSCME has not presented “any substantive counterproposals” since April.
“Absent AFSCME’s engagement, the university cannot engage in meaningful negotiations for this critical workforce,” Hansen said. “Nonetheless, we remain hopeful and committed to working towards a fair and sustainable agreement that supports our employees and advances the university’s mission of service, education and research.”
Earlier this month, the UC and the University Professional and Technical Employees union reached a tentative contractual agreement that included pay raises, capped health care rates, more unpaid parental leave, and new processes for career progressions and layoffs.
“Over the past month, UC has worked around the clock to accelerate contract negotiations with several other labor partners, successfully reaching fair agreements that reflect shared commitment and engagement,” Hansen said. “These outcomes show that UC can and has quickly closed deals when both parties actively participate in solutions-oriented bargaining.”
UC’s last offer to AFSCME employees included a five-year contract with a 5% pay raise in the first year, 4% in the second year and 3% in the following three years.
Serafin Zamora, who has worked at UCSB as a groundskeeper for 22 years, said the union wants a three-year contract with a 7.5% raise each year.
“A lot of workers, they have an extra job,” Zamora said. “They don’t live locally. They live in Santa Paula, they live in Oxnard, Ventura, Lompoc, Santa Maria, they gotta commute every single day. The food is high, the rent is high, gas is high. Some people, they sleep in their cars. That’s the challenge that we have to confront every single day.”
Zamora said he hopes UC responds to the strike by joining the bargaining table.
“We don’t want to stop until we get what we deserve,” Zamora said. “Hopefully they understand why the workers are suffering, and they come back to the table with a good negotiation.”
On Thursday, UAW 4811 plans to hold statewide rallies to demand a fair contract. The union includes academic student employees, student services and advising professionals, and research and public service professionals.
UCSB UAW 4811 members plan to hold a rally at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Arbor on campus, according to spokesperson Bergen Kenny.
