Over 60,000 University of California (UC) workers walked off their jobs Wednesday in a massive labor action affecting all 10 UC campuses and multiple medical centers across California.
The strike involves two major unions representing different worker groups. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME), which includes 37,000 service and patient care workers, began a two-day strike. The University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 (UPTE-CWA), representing around 20,000 healthcare, research, and technical workers, launched a three-day work stoppage.
Workers are demanding better wages, increased staffing levels, and improved working conditions across UC facilities. The strike comes amid stalled contract negotiations between the unions and UC administration. AFSCME's previous contract expired in 2024, while UPTE-CWA's agreement ended in October 2024.
The coordinated labor action is causing disruptions to hospital operations and research activities throughout the UC system. Medical facilities are particularly impacted as both patient care workers and healthcare professionals participate in the strike.
This marks one of the largest higher education strikes in recent California history, highlighting growing labor tensions in the state's premier public university system as workers push for better compensation and workplace standards.