Thousands of AFSCME members rally in downtown LA, call on University of California to provide front-line employees with a fair contract
AFSCME President Lee Saunders, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler and AFSCME Local 3299 leaders spotlight the dire situation UC employees are facing
LOS ANGELES — Today, University of California hospital and service workers held a massive rally for a fair contract. The UC workers — 30,000 of whom make up AFSCME Local 3299 — were joined by thousands of fellow AFSCME members from across the country who are in Los Angeles for the union’s 46th international convention. National labor leaders, including AFSCME President Lee Saunders and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, were in attendance and delivered remarks urging UC to invest in their essential workforce.
Countless essential UC employees can no longer afford to live within the communities they serve due to stagnant wages that have failed to keep up with housing costs. Many have precious few hours at home with their loved ones before the long commute to their next shift. Since January of 2024, AFSCME Local 3299 workers have been in negotiations with UC management for a new contract that will bring them livable wages and housing assistance. But despite offering home loan programs for faculty and executive staff, UC has thus far refused any assistance for the front-line workers who keep their hospitals and campuses running. Today, workers took action.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders said:
"You are not alone. First of all, you've got 1.4 million members who have your back. And if we need to, we will take it to the streets. You are not afraid, and we are not afraid. And we always stand up for what we believe in."
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said:
“I'm bringing the voices of twelve and a half million workers, sixty unions who have your back! This brings home what workers all across this country are feeling and fighting for. Housing affordability is the number one issue. Workers can't afford to live where they work. But it's so basic: We deserve to live in the communities where we serve.”
AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride said:
“We are a powerful force for justice. We are a tidal wave that's going to rock those UC bosses. We are united in this fight because when bosses mess with one of us, they mess with all of us.”
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler said:
“Make no mistake: a win for AFSCME Local 3299 is a win for all of us because when our essential workers are given what they need, they can continue to provide the care we need without worrying about their housing. Our labor should come with the ability to have a roof over our heads in the neighborhoods we call home.”
AFSCME International Vice President Kathryn Lybarger said:
“We make the University of California one of the best university systems in the world. That is what we do. That is what AFSCME does. And yet since 2017 our workers have received an 8% pay cut. And since 2017, the executives at the university have received a 36% pay increase. Is that okay? No, it's not!”
AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant said:
“UC, with their billions in endowment money, has already given housing assistance to executives. You better believe they can afford to give housing assistance to their front-line workers. In fact, we already got it done at one campus. When they expanded UC Davis, we made them put ten million dollars into a fund to help our members stay in their homes. That program is transforming lives as we speak. They did it at UC Davis; they did for their executives; they can do it for all of us.”
UC Administrative Clinical Care Partner and AFSCME Local 3299 member Monica Martinez said:
“I’m lucky I have not been pushed out of my hometown — at least not yet. Many of my coworkers are not so lucky. Many are forced to live hours away from the hospitals and campuses they serve. Many are sleeping in UC parking lots because it’s easier than traveling home before their next shift. If UC continues to ignore this crisis among their workforce…they won’t have one anymore. And LA, San Diego, San Francisco and all the communities UC operates in will look completely different without us here — without the hard-working people whose families have called these areas home for generations.
To receive pictures from the event, email Nick Voutsinos at nvoutsinos@afscme.org.