University of California Service Workers Protesting for Higher Wages

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University of California service workers strike
Credits: AP/Jae C. Hong

Thousands of service workers including custodians, gardeners, security guards and others are protesting at University of California campuses on Monday.

The service workers are demanding the University of California to address inequalities and increase their wages. They will strike until Wednesday, according to the

Around 6:00 am, the strikers gathered at University of California campuses.  They are wearing green T-shirts that say “We run UC” and carrying placards stating their demand for “equality, fairness, and respect.”

Last week, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299, which represents the service workers, called the three-day strike. The union made the decision after it failed to reach a new contract with the University of California.

AFSCME Local 3299 represents 25,000 service workers. It also represents 29,000 medical workers including nurses, nursing aides, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians and more.

Over the next two days, the medical workers are expected to join the strike to support university service workers. Some hospitals already rescheduled patients’ appointments in anticipation of the strike.