Union announces skilled worker strike at UC Santa Cruz over
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) A skilled craft worker strike at the University of California, Santa Cruz is over, according to AFSCME 3299.
The union said the workers have been fighting for fair wages, job security, healthcare and pension and had previously been denied by the school.
The workers went on strike for two weeks, but came to an agreement Tuesday and ratified a contract.
"During the strike, UC played the same tricks to threaten, confuse, and scare workers hoping that we would settle for less. With the same persistence, K7 members won what UC said they would never get," the union said in a statement.
When asked for comment, a UCSC spokesperson was able to provide more details. The school reached a four year contract with the workers, who returned to their jobs today.
Some of the highlights of the contract include:
- 21% salary increase across the board between Oct. 2019 and Oct. 2023, including 3% at ratification and 3% every October for the rest of the contract
- Equity increases for eligible staff
- Daily overtime and double-time for shifts over 12 hours
- New employees will receive the same pension benefits as current employees and agree to any changes negotiated in the AFSCME service successor contract
- Limits on healthcare increases
- Workers will pay the same rate as other employees for parking with a 10% cap on increases
- Employees cannot strike for the duration of the contract
Earlier this month, skilled workers teamed up with graduate students at the university, who are also on strike, for a rally.
