Service workers and patient care staff at UC San Diego’s Jacobs Medical Center took to the picket lines on Wednesday, demanding higher wages and housing assistance as contract negotiations with the University of California continue.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), representing over 30,000 university workers, has been in talks with UC since January. Workers are struggling to make ends meet, particularly when it comes to housing costs near university campuses.
Radiologic technologist Melissa Macario, who commutes from Chula Vista to La Jolla, expressed frustration with the university’s wages not keeping up with the local market. “We’ve been struggling for quite some time since the pandemic,” she said.
The union highlighted disparities in housing assistance, noting that while the university offers home loan programs for faculty and executives, service workers are left out. Cardiac surgical technologist Stevie Bellwood emphasized the need for equal access to such benefits.
Last year, concerns were raised about the University of California’s investment in Blackstone, a private equity firm with properties in San Diego, contributing to the lack of affordable housing. Despite this, UC announced a $4 billion investment in Blackstone in January 2023.
In response to the ongoing negotiations, the University of California stated that they are committed to addressing the financial challenges faced by their employees. They have proposed raising the minimum wage for patient care and service workers to $24 an hour by April 2025.
State lawmakers are also considering delaying a health worker minimum wage law, which would impact UC workers, due to concerns about the associated costs. The law aims to phase in a $25 minimum wage for certain workers over several years.
