UC Hastings Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike

UC HASTINGS WORKERS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE

SF Law School’s Lowest Paid Workers Haven’t Had a Pay Raise in 3 years

**ALERT**

(OAKLAND, CA) – After nearly three years without a raise, nearly 100 AFSCME 3299 represented librarians, administrative and professional staff at UC Hastings College of the Law have voted to authorize a strike with 89% support. If a strike is called, it would be the first economic strike ever mounted by UC Hastings staff.

“Our members are devoted to our families and to the students we serve each day,” said Jeff Herrera, Library Operations Manager at UC Hastings. “But UC Hastings Administrators have refused to present workers with a fair wage offer—even though administrators forecast a strong financial position in the coming years and annual revenues consistently exceed expenses by millions of dollars. As a public institution, UC Hastings has a responsibility to provide its career workers with livable wages. Their substandard proposals have failed to meet this basic standard of respect and fairness, and that’s why our colleagues are prepared to strike.”

AFSCME 3299 represented UC Hastings College of the Law workers earn an average of $56,000 per year. The cost of living in San Francisco has risen more than 17% since the workers’ last pay increase, and a neutral factfinder in their ongoing dispute with college administrators concluded they earn far below market wages, with comparative positions at neighboring UC campuses paid as much as 20-35% more.

The AFSCME 3299 represented bargaining unit at UC Hastings includes Administrative Analysts, Administrative Specialists, Accountants, Program Coordinators, Parking Attendants, Administrative Assistants, Library Assistants, Computer Support Specialists, Web Developers, Student Services Coordinators and related occupations.

Workers voted to be represented by AFSCME 3299 in 2010 and won their first contract in 2012. The workers have been trying to negotiate a successor agreement since their second contract expired in June of 2017.

The years long dispute has already seen the school’s past two commencement speakers—SF Mayor London Breed and Congressman Adam Schiff—cancel appearances in solidarity with UC Hastings workers.

Should AFSCME 3299’s Bargaining Team call for a strike, the union must give Administrators three days notice.