Patient care, service workers begin two-day strike
By Daily Bruin
May 21, 2013 5:00 p.m.
About 200 workers with signs and whistles picketed outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center today, as part of the first day of a two-day strike by University of California patient care technical and service workers.
The workers in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 union began their planned strike at 4 a.m. today to protest stalled contract negotiations between the union and the UC.
Some said they had been protesting outside of the medical center as early as 6 a.m.
The union workers held picket signs and chanted to protest issues like high executive salaries, understaffing at the UC medical centers and low worker pay throughout the system.
UC officials have said, however, that the union will not agree to generous pension proposals the University has put forward.
Today, workers walked up and down Westwood Boulevard and gathered to listen to speakers with megaphones. A row of tables lined the sidewalk, where workers could sign in with the union and pick up shirts and picket signs.
They chanted phrases like “Patient care” and “Treat your workers right.”
“We want to fight to at least keep our benefits,” said Maria Nava, a service worker who said brings food to patients at the medical center.
The strike is set to continue until 4 a.m. on Thursday.
Compiled by Ariana Ricarte, Bruin reporter, and Katherine Hafner, Bruin senior staff.
