Whereas, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME 3299) is one of the largest unions in the University of California,

 

Whereas, AFSCME 3299 represents over 22,000 workers from every UC facility in the state, including the ten campuses, five medical centers, agricultural and marine research stations, and all other facilities that employ UC workers,

 

Whereas, service workers are the lowest paid UC employees[1][2]; they carry out gardening, maintenance, food service, and custodial duties on each campus; and

 

Whereas, our Service workers dedicate their time to maintain and beautify the campus, the PCT workers treat and prevent illness from spreading in our communities and;

 

Whereas, the Service workers and PCT are dignified people that have been struggling with the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) for a fair and rights contract  and:

 

Whereas, AFSCME 3299 have engaged in bargaining sessions that challenged the UCOP’s priorities on for-profit corporate working models over the health and safety of students, professors, patients and workers and;

 

Whereas, workers often support students in their struggles for a more accessible, affordable, quality, and diverse University of California system; and

 

Whereas, during the 2012 elections, AFSCME 3299 supported the UC Student Association in voter registration efforts by providing UCSA with over 60,000 dollars that successfully enabled UCSA to register over 50,000 students system-wide; and

 

Whereas, unions and corporate institutions are fundamentally in opposition because unions strive to increase wages for employees, while executives strive to extract the most profit possible; and

 

Whereas, there are over 7 Unions with over 14 bargaining units that have collective bargaining rights with the UC system; and

 

Whereas, many of these unions have been without a contract between 2-5 years and have not received any implementation of a contract by the University of California; and

 

Whereas, AFSCME 3299 PCT workers have been without a contract since September 30, 2012 and Service workers without a contract since January 30, 2013; and

 

Whereas, on July 24, 2013, the UC imposed a unilateral implementation of their proposals on AFSCME 3299 PCT workers, which was less than a year of being without a contract; and

 

Whereas, on September 25th, 2013, the UC imposed a unilateral implementation of their proposals on AFSCME 3299 Service workers which they didn’t agree to, nor had any say in, which was less than a year of being without a contract; and

 

Whereas, the unilateral implementation contained draconian terms that included cuts to their benefits and stagnated wages, such as payments for parking, increase to contributing to their own pensions; and

 

Whereas, the UC Irvine administration has repeatedly been dismissive of workers and their allies, even trying to pit them against each other on the premise of scarcity, while they continue to receive lucrative benefits and salaries; and

 

Let it therefore be resolved that ASUCI as a collective unit will stand in solidarity with the AFSCME 3299 Service and Patient Care Technical employees at the University of California Irvine; and

 

Let it further be resolved that ASUCI condemns the lack of respect and acknowledgement from the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs  and the Office of Chancellor when workers ask to speak to the aforementioned parties[3]; and

 

Let it further be resolved that ASUCI denounces the dehumanization of Service and Patient Care Technical workers; and

 

Let it further be resolved that ASUCI condemns the administration pitting students against workers on the premise of scarcity[4], while they continue to give themselves bonuses, while taking no cuts themselves on the premise of being “competitive”; and

 

Let if finally be resolved that ASUCI will assist AFSCME as allies in their struggle for better working conditions and compensation, both symbolically and actively.

 

 

[1] http://ucpay.globl.org/index.php?campus=&name=&title=&base=&overtime=&extra=&gross=%3E200%2C000&year=2012&s=gross

[2] http://ucpay.globl.org/index.php?campus=&name=&title=&base=&overtime=&extra=&gross=%3C23%2C000&year=2012&s=gross

[3] http://youtu.be/wFsEzkQPaE4

[4] http://www.uaw2865.org/?p=3541