Strikes at UCLA are more than just an inconvenience for students.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 went on strike last month after UCLA failed to negotiate a fair contractual agreement with its members. This union represents 37,000 service, patient care and skilled craft workers at the UC’s 10 campuses.
The union’s demands to the UC include more livable wages, affordable health care, fair housing and proper staffing. These contractual grievances are ongoing, and the union went on strike several times during the 2024-25 academic year.
During the strike, many university services were limited, most notably dining services for students living on the Hill. All restaurants, except for De Neve Residential Restaurant, Feast at Reiber, Epicuria at Covel and food trucks, were closed, leaving students with fewer food options for the two days. Housekeeping services were also reduced due to the strike.
The UC Office of the President claims that the AFSCME Local 3299 is not participating in “solutions-oriented bargaining,” while the union believes the UC is not addressing increasing “unaffordability of life.”
Fair working conditions should be a paramount concern to everyone. The strike is happening because of unfair conditions, and students who stand for justice should also stand with strikers. Students cannot treat these strikes as occurring around them.
Participation is crucial, and, if students want to complain about inconveniences and less dining options in future strikes, they should picket too.
These skilled workers are vital to the university’s functioning. They work to make our campus a comfortable place for students to study and live.
While the disruption may feel like a burden, this burden is the whole point of the strike. A strike is supposed to bring light to the services we take for granted with the hope that the public will see the necessity of the workers’ efforts.
Students must recognize how crucial AFSCME Local 3299 and others are to the UCLA community. It is easy to go to class, put your head down and ignore the workers and their demands. However, students must bolster workers’ efforts to earn living wages rather than ignoring picketers and complaining about the inconvenience.
Negotiations between the union and UCLA will continue, and working with strikers and AFSCME Local 3299 is the best way to end dining closures and limited amenities on the Hill in the case of another strike.
Given all that these workers do, the least students can do is support their efforts.
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