UC San Diego Campus Updates for AFSCME and UPTE Strike

Labor Relations

UC San Diego respects the rights of represented employees to bargain collectively on the terms and conditions of employment, and to perform legally protected strike activities. Individuals on strike are legally permitted to picket near the exterior of university properties and building entrances. Strike conduct that is unlawful includes, but is not limited to, blocking vehicles and/or persons from entering or leaving a property/facility/building; interfering with meetings, classes, research or other activities that are part of regular campus operational activities; threatening violence; vandalizing/defacing university property; and physical attacks.

We look forward to swift and successful resolutions, and will keep our campus community updated as more information becomes available.

AFSCME

The American Federation of State, Municipal and County Employees (AFSCME) union has two bargaining units representing 32,800 patient care technical and service employees:

• The Patient Care Technical Unit (EX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of employees engaged primarily in rendering patient support services at UC’s Medical Centers and in fewer numbers on UC’s campuses.
• The Service Unit (SX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory employees who provide vital custodial, transportation, and related support services.

UC San Diego has been informed that the Patient Care Technical (EX) and Service (SX) workers represented by AFSCME plan a 48-hour strike November 20-21, 2024.

This action comes as UC and the unions continue to engage in contract negotiations. UC has presented meaningful proposals to address union requests, including wage increases.

Our campus has plans in place and is prepared in the event of a work stoppage by individuals represented by AFSCME. UC San Diego Health and UC San Diego Campus leadership has shared additional pertinent information with the relevant units.

UPTE

The University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union has three bargaining units representing 18,224 health care, technical and research employees:

• The Health Care Professional Unit (HX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory licensed health care practitioners who provide a variety of clinical and medical services.
• The Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory research support professionals who provide highly specialized and complex scientific support for researchers.
• The Technical Unit (TX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory technical support personnel in a highly diverse unit who provide a great range of technical support services for academic and scientific research.

No UPTE strike activity has been announced for UC San Diego at this time, however the union has announced they plan to strike Nov. 20-21 at UC San Francisco.

For more information about ongoing negotiations, please visit the University of California’s “Unions and UC” webpage.