UCLA service workers, students protest UC compensation contract

BY DYLAN NGUYEN
The original version of this article contained multiple errors and unclear information and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.

Dozens of service workers and UCLA students gathered at different locations around campus Thursday to protest the University of California’s recent compensation contract with the service worker’s union.

Last month, the UC announced that it will implement its contract offer for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299, the largest union for UC workers. The contract includes changes to retirement contributions, and would require workers to pay 6.5 percent into their retirement plan, a 1.5 percent increase. The University’s contribution will increase from 10 to 12 percent.

The new contract does not include a wage increase. Service workers received a 2 percent increase in wages in July and annual increases of up to 5 percent in the last two years.

The UC imposed these changes for all its employees after almost a year of negotiations, despite opposition from AFSCME.

Oscar Rubio, who has been working as a UCLA service worker for almost 15 years, said he works overtime to support his family and that heneeds a wage increase.

“They say we are paid like we are middle class,” said Rubio, who was one of about 40 people at the protest. “But that is not true.”

The protest began on the Hill near Bruin Café when protesters gathered at about 11 a.m. By 3:30 p.m., the group headed to Murphy Hall and continued demonstrating late into the afternoon.

Sarah Dahnke, a second-year global studies student, said she joined the workers because they serve the students, including her. She was one of about 15 individuals protesting at Bruin Café.

“(The workers) basically take care of us,” Dahnke said. “They’re our family away from home.”

Demonstrators spoke out against the contract’s lack of wage increases and the demand for workers to pay more for their retirement benefits. The group sang chants such as “UC greed has got to go,” and attendees held up signs reading “Safe Staffing Now!” and “Fair Pension, not Golden Handshakes.”

The UC said its conditions are market-competitive and necessary to preserve the UC’s retirement system for the long term. According to an email statement from Shelly Meron, UCOP spokeswoman, “Overall, the UC spends an average of $56,063 a year on salary and benefits for each service employee.”

Henry Avila, who has been employed as a UCLA service worker for nine years, said the UC only allows him to work 32 hours a week and doesn’t pay him enough to afford housing. He now lives in his car, located in a parking lot.

“I’m here for the workers because I don’t want to see them end up like me,” Avila said.

The UC has said it is moving forward with the new contract, citing that it already followed the required bargaining procedures.

Contributing reports by Fiona Kirby, Bruin reporter.

Correction: The most recent contract between the UC and AFSCME did not include changes to health benefits. Service worker’s retirement contributions increased to 6.5 percent under the new contract and the University’s contribution increased to 12 percent. Service workers received a wage increase last July as well as annual increases in the last two years.

[Source]: Daily Bruin