A union representing about 40,000 UC workers reached a contract with the University early Thursday morning after more than two years of negotiations, averting an open-ended strike hours before it was set to begin.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 – which represents patient care, service and skilled craft workers across the UC – planned to start an indefinite strike Thursday if the University did not meet its demands. However, the union announced in an early morning press release that it had called off the strike.

“Tonight we have reached a tentative agreement with the University that makes historic progress and delivers long-overdue security to the frontline service and patient care professionals who make UC run,” AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant said in a Thursday statement. “This process took persistence and involved great sacrifices by every single one of our members.” 

[Related: UCLA plans for operational changes ahead of open-ended AFSCME Local 3299 strike]

The tentative contract would give permanent employees a $1,500 payment and increase the union’s minimum wage to $30.10 by April 2029, according to the press release. It would also cap healthcare insurance rates, implement layoff protections and give employees an additional paid day off work.

“We’re glad to have reached an agreement with AFSCME that recognizes the important work these employees do every day across UC’s campuses and health centers,” said Missy Matella, the UC’s associate vice president for systemwide employee and labor relations, in a Thursday statement. “This contract delivers meaningful pay increases and addresses some of the real affordability pressures our employees are facing, while allowing us to move forward together focused on UC’s mission of patient care, teaching and research.”

The union struck five times across the UC since starting contract negotiations in January 2024, alleging the University had bargained in bad faith and failed to meet its demands. A spokesperson for AFSCME Local 3299 did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the union’s choice to agree to the new contract.

AFSCME Local 3299’s bargaining team unanimously recommended the contract – which would last through November 2029 – according to the press release. Union members can vote on whether to ratify the contract May 19 to 21. 

“To be clear, our members should never have had to endure two years without a contract,” Avant said in the statement. “United behind core principles like fairness and dignity, they stood together, spoke truth to power, and showed that solidarity isn’t just the best antidote to injustice. It is a rising tide that can lift all boats.”