The University of California has implemented a pay increase of $25 an hour or a 5% increase — whichever is greater — for more than 37,000 university employees represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 3299.
Union members received the raises July 1 after UC implemented select terms of its last, best and final contract offer on June 25 for the Patient Care Technical Unit and the Service Unit, according to a university news release.
The Patient Care Technical Unit is a bargaining unit of about 25,785 UC patient care technical employees who provide patient care support services at five medical centers, nine student health centers and numerous outpatient clinics.
The Service Unit is a bargaining unit of about 11,418 service workers who provide essential custodial, transportation and other basic support services at UC campuses and medical centers.
Besides raises, the new terms of the last, best and final offer implement new medical insurance premium credits of up to $1,500 annually for employees who choose Kaiser or UC Blue & Gold HMO (Health Net), UC said. The terms also outline grievance procedures, leave time (including expanded sick leave), and meal and rest periods.
“In these uncertain economic times, we recognize our employees’ need for certainty,” Missy Matella, associate vice president, systemwide employee and labor relations for the UC system, said in a statement. “Rather than letting questions about compensation and conditions go unresolved, we’re putting these wage and health benefits in place to provide security during this critical period, with our pay increases serving as concrete evidence of our commitment to our employees.”
AFSCME began bargaining with UC in January 2024, and members’ contracts expired July 31 for patient care workers and Oct. 31 for service workers. Members have held multiple strikes throughout the bargaining process.
UC said implementation of select terms of the last, best and final offer came after negotiations reached an impasse and impasse procedures were exhausted.
Becker’s has reached out to AFSCME and will update this story if comment is received.
