This post was updated Feb. 17 at 11:08 p.m.

A major UC union announced Friday that it will go on a two-day strike later this month.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 – which represents service, patient care and skilled crafts workers – called on its workers to strike Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 across all 10 University campuses. Around 37,000 workers are represented by the union, according to an AFSCME Local 3299 press release.

In the press release, the union alleged that the University has negotiated in bad faith on a new contract. The UC’s previous contracts with workers represented by the union expired in July and October 2024, and the two parties have not yet come to an agreement.

“By refusing to bargain in good faith, the University has made it clear that it does not value the frontline workers who clean its facilities, serve food, and treat patients,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant in the press release.

The union also alleged in new unfair labor practices charges filed Monday that the University used intimidation – including threats of disciplinary action following new speech rules and of arrest for protesting – to prevent workers from striking. 

“UC’s actions directly attack AFSCME members’ ability to advocate for themselves as they demand that UC address the cost-of-living crisis and housing unaffordability at the University, and they are blatantly illegal,” the union said in the ULP charge it filed.

The ULP charge, which was filed with the Public Employment Relations Board, also alleged UCLA specifically has policies to prohibit leafleting on campus. The university announced new Time, Place and Manner restrictions governing protests in September, following several student and union protests in spring 2024.

“At UCLA, UC gave AFSCME a ‘final warning’ that its picketing activity violated access rules, because AFSCME used bullhorns without UC’s approval and did not secure advance approval from UC to picket in locations AFSCME has long used for protests,” the union said in the ULP charge.

UC Office of the President Media Relations spokespeople did not respond in time to a request for comment on the allegations.

AFSCME Local 3299 previously called for a strike in November, with thousands of workers demonstrating to call attention to what they saw as bad-faith bargaining practices from the University. In response to the strike, UCLA consolidated dining halls, leading to long lines for food on the Hill.

Protesters supporting the union also marched through campus buildings – including Bunche Hall, Boelter Hall and the Mathematical Sciences Building – while chanting as part of picketing demonstrations during the November strike.

[Related: AFSCME Local 3299 rallies together for 2-day strike against UC]

The union has not yet announced picket times and locations for the strike. UCLA Media Relations did not respond in time to requests for comment on how the university plans to mitigate the strike’s impact on students.

Contributing reports from Alexandra Crosnoe, national news and higher education editor.