UCLA Dining closes four Hill restaurants due to union strike

UCLA Dining Services officials closed Bruin Plate, Feast at Rieber, Hedrick Test Kitchen and Cafe 1919 Wednesday because of anticipated low staffing levels resulting from a union strike.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299 union, which represents more than 22,000 patient care and service workers at the University of California, is striking to protest alleged unfair labor practices by the UC.

The UC Student-Workers Union, United Auto Workers Local 2865, which represents more than 12,000 academic student employees in the UC, is also striking in solidarity with AFSCME 3299.

The four dining locations on the Hill have been closed to make sure the Hill’s other dining halls and restaurants can remain in operation, said Alison Hewitt, a UCLA spokeswoman. The locations constitute about 30 percent of the Hill’s overall daily dining operations, she added.

At this time, officials do not know how many staff members employed in the Hill’s residential restaurants and dining halls are missing work for the strike.

Hewitt said the four locations were prepared to close if needed, and the strike made the temporary closures necessary.

The strike is set to end at 7 p.m., and UCLA hopes to have operations back to normal as soon as possible thereafter, she said.

All other Hill locations will remain open, but menus may be limited.

Compiled by Katherine Hafner, Bruin senior staff.

[Source]: Daily Bruin