Two major UC unions struck on campus Thursday, limiting access to dining halls and cleaning services.

The University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119 – which represents researchers and technical workers – and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 – which represents service, patient care and skilled craft workers – called for the strike in response to the UC’s systemwide hiring freeze. UC President Michael Drake announced March 19 that the UC would freeze hiring in response to proposed federal and state policies that threaten the University’s budget.

[Related: UC implements systemwide hiring freeze following federal, state threats to budget]

The strike led to the closure of most UCLA Housing Dining Halls, except for Bruin Plate, De Neve Residential Restaurant, Epicuria at Covel and some food trucks.

Thursday was both unions’ fourth strike this academic year over alleged unfair labor practices. It was also their third strike in the last three months, following strikes in February and April. AFSCME Local 3299 and UPTE-CWA 9119 are yet to reach a contract agreement with the UC, despite beginning contract negotiations in January 2024 and June 2024, respectively.

UC Office of the President spokesperson Heather Hansen said in an emailed statement that the University is scheduled to meet with UPTE-CWA 9119 on May 8 to bargain. She added that the UC offered AFSCME Local 3299 a “last, best and final offer” April 30, which meets their original demand of a $25 per hour minimum wage and a 5% wage increase.

Hansen also said in the statement that the University is “disappointed” by the unions’ continuous strike, which cost the UC millions of dollars. The current systemwide hiring freeze, which several other universities have implemented, applies only to future hires, she said in the statement.

“We are disappointed by the union’s continued choice of striking as a negotiation tactic,” Hansen said in the statement. “We are hopeful for meaningful progress with both unions so that we can turn our attention to the state and federal funding concerns.”

The unions struck throughout campus and started marching toward the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center around 11 a.m from Bruin Plaza. The picketers held signs and a banner that read, “UC: Unfreeze our futures or feel the heat,” and chanted, “Whose university? Our university.” and “The workers, united, will never be divided.”

Max Belasco, a co-chair of UPTE-CWA 9119’s chapter at UCLA, said the union’s multiple strikes aim to draw attention to unfair labor practices the University has allegedly engaged in during contract negotiations. UPTE-CWA 9119 has previously struck in response to alleged bad faith bargaining by the UC, staff vacancies and job classifications that seek to “diminish” the union’s bargaining power.

Being a fourth-generation member of the Bruin community, Belasco added that he holds both the UC and UCLA to a high standard when it comes to education, research and health care and also said the University can only reach its full potential when frontline workers are fully supported and resourced.

The strike coincided with May Day – also known as International Workers’ Day – which recognizes labor movements.

The Student Labor Advocacy Project, UC Divest Coalition at UCLA and the Southern California Regional Formation of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle hosted a walk-out starting at Murphy Hall to recognize May Day and support the unions. Around 50 demonstrators marched down to Gateway Plaza and then to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center chanting, “When workers’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”

“This specific strike on May Day is about the hiring freeze that the UC imposed on, without conferring with the unions, which they are legally obligated to do and basically causing an unfair labor practice,” Belasco said. “The hiring freeze only exacerbates the problems that we’ve identified and are trying to resolve through bargaining.”

Monica Martinez, an administrative clinical care partner at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and a member of AFSCME Local 3299, said she joined the strike because of hospital staffing vacancies – which led to clinical workers being “stretched thin” during their shifts.

Martinez added that she believes effective staffing is needed to properly care for patients and retain quality workers.

Martinez also said she felt it was great that many other workers struck, adding that during the demonstration, her union and UPTE-CWA 9119 felt like a large family.

“I don’t see management with any indication that they really are interested in actually having a contract, the way that things have been dragging,” Martinez said. “It’s very discouraging in that sense. I don’t know what they’re thinking.”

Malik Gabby, a student intern for AFSCME Local 3299, said he hopes these demonstrations – and the impacts they have on students’ lives – will encourage them to support the cause and put pressure on the administration.

The groups marched back to campus around 1:05 p.m, continuing with chants that included, “Who runs UC? We run UC,” and “Whose university? Our university.” An LAPD car followed the picketers as they headed back toward Bruin Plaza.

At 1:35 p.m., members of AFSCME Local 3299 marched in circles around Bruin Plaza. Both unions finished picketing at 2:00 p.m. on campus.

Nelly Hernandez, an assistant pastry chef for UCLA Dining, said although half her staff did not attend work, the chefs knew in advance to prepare for the strike. She added that they prepared by making some Friday orders in advance.

“I honestly (am) not 100% sure what it is that they’re fighting for other than maybe wages, which I’m totally for,” Hernandez said. “Other than that, we really don’t know much.”

Belen Martinez, a second-year neuroscience student, said the strikes somewhat inconvenienced her in terms of getting food from the dining halls.

“My times in the mornings, especially breakfast, it’s really hard for me to get normally, even without the strike,” she said. “With the strike, too, it’s even more difficult, and it just kind of throws off my day.”

However, Belasco called on students to support the unions.

“The UC touches almost every working Californian’s life and so for us, at this moment, in this political landscape where we’re dealing with so many attacks on the public sector, we have a responsibility,” Belasco said. “I would ask all students to spread our message – join our struggle.”

Contributing reports by Alexandra Crosnoe, Izzy Greig, Caitlin Brockenbrow, Sophia Pu, Natalia Mochernak and Prannay Veerabahu, Daily Bruin staff