LOS ANGELES—More than 40,000 University of California employees began a two-day strike on Nov. 17 at 18 campuses and medical facilities statewide over what they say is the university’s failure to negotiate a contract addressing the cost of living.
Workers walked picket lines at the UCLA campus, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital on Monday. Picket lines were expected to end by 4 p.m. on both days, according to union officials.
The two-day action was scheduled to formally end Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents more than 40,000 UC service and patient care technical workers, is leading the action. AFSCME Local 3299 reported its members—ranging from custodians, food service workers, patient care assistants and hospital technicians—have been working without a contract for more than a year….