UC Unlawfully Threatens AFSCME 3299

OAKLAND — In a bargaining offer emailed from the University of California to American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299’s Patient Care Technical Unit on Feb. 3, UC unlawfully threatened to rescind their proposals and deduct unspecified costs from future offers if AFSCME 3299 proceeds with its planned strike authorization vote Feb. 11 through 13.

In response, AFSCME 3299’s legal counsel has issued a cease and desist letter to the University of California, and AFSCME 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger has penned a similar appeal to UC President Janet Napolitano.

With negotiators for both AFSCME 3299’s Service (SX) and Patient Care (EX) units already having conceded to UC’s demands on more than 30 of 40 contract issues—as well as UC’s top priority of pension reform—the remaining sticking points remain staffing standards and wage increases.

On these priority issues for AFSCME 3299, UC has refused to offer anything commensurate with what it has already granted to its other employees.

UC also illegally coerced AFSCME 3299 members in an effort to prevent the exercise of collective bargaining rights back in May, and singled out AFSCME workers for unilateral implementation of contract terms that included what amounted to pay cuts on its lowest paid workers this past year.

A recent study pointed to rising income inequality and staffing shortfalls at UC hitting AFSCME represented Service workers the hardest—with workplace injuries skyrocketing more than 20 percent in the past five years, 99 percent of service workers currently income eligible for some form of public assistance and some full time UC workers even living in their cars.

“We want a settlement with the university and will continue to bargain in good faith,” added Lybarger. “Our members have made it clear that they will not accept second class status at UC, and that’s why our service unit is exercising their legal right to vote on authorizing a strike next week. UC must recognize that the costs associated with strikes are self inflicted financial wounds that they have brought on themselves through illegal conduct and insufficient offers on wages and staffing. Only UC has the power to prevent another strike.”

Read the Cease and Desist Letter Here: http://action.afscme.org/c/399/images/CeaseAndDesistLetter2.4.14.pdf

Read Lybarger’s letter to Napolitano Here: http://action.afscme.org/c/399/images/LybargerLettertoNapolitano2.6.2014.pdf

Read the White Paper on the Struggles of UC Service Workers: http://www.afscme3299.org/media/runaway-inequality-at-uc/