The strike involving UC employees across California is now in its second day, with thousands expected to take to the picket lines again Thursday morning.
There was a lot of back and forth between the union and the university.
The UC system also claims that the union has collectively stopped acting on a proposal to raise wages to $25 an hour by next July.
Those behind the picket lines care for patients and their needs. They include radiologists, phlebotomists, medical assistants, custodians, security personnel, and food service workers.
Employees claim the facility is understaffed and they need to earn more money to buy housing.
The union representing thousands of workers also claims the university illegally increased health care costs by hundreds of dollars each month by avoiding negotiations.
A woman who has worked at UCLA’s medical facilities for decades told NBC4 that medical costs are becoming a burden.
“It affects a lot of us. It’s affecting me because some of the medications I’m taking right now have to go to Mexico to get them right now. It’s money I don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck and take extra trips that I don’t need,” said Rosalba Montoya, a striking UCLA health care worker. .
The University of California responded to the strike, stating in part:
“We fundamentally disagree with AFSCME’s claims of bad faith negotiations and characterization of the negotiation proposal as unacceptable. From January to May, the University of California and AFSCME negotiating teams met 22 times and We worked together on a proposal for the staff represented by UC AFSCME.”
As the ups and downs continue, this attack continues as well. It is scheduled to last until 11:59 tonight.
Workers’ tents are still being set up, and picket lines are expected to form again at 7am this morning.
The UCLA Health Department says people with appointments or who need medical care are not affected and will be seen.
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