40,000 UC workers gird for a strike, disrupting medical services, cafeterias at all campuses

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The University of California is bracing for a massive strike Thursday that would disrupt services at all campuses and and medical centers as more than 40,000 workers — patient transport staff, nursing aides, custodians, campus dining hall employees — are prepared to walk out if an agreement is not reached.The threatened strike could halt or delay scores of medical appointments, although hospitals will remain open, and it would limit campus dining operations.UC campuses and medical centers are making contingency plans and communicating with patients, students, faculty and staff about potential disruptions.

California More than 40,000 UC workers from the AFSCME 3299 union across all campuses and hospitals are ready to strike Thursday.Late Wednesday afternoon, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 remained deep in contract negotiations and had not reached an agreement with UC.

Union leaders said the open-ended strike would not end until demands are met for better wages, lower healthcare costs and opening talks with UC over how the university can help alleviate ballooning housing costs.UC has said it has offered to increase salaries, give contract ratification bonuses and cap some healthcare premium increases.When the union announced the strike nearly a month ago, a UC spokesperson said the university was “disappointed” by the decision “despite the significant progress made at the bargaining table.”The union said picket lines and rallies would begin 8 a.m.

Thursday at every UC campus and hospital, including Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.The threatened work stoppage would culminate more than two years of contract negotiations after several one- and multi-day strikesAFSCME’s members include custodians, gardeners, dining hall food service workers, transportation workers and skilled craft workers such as plumbers and electricians...