State Legislators Stand With UC Teamster Workers

Twenty-Six Legislators Send University of California President Janet Napolitano Letter Asking for a Fair Contract

News provided by

Teamsters Local 2010

Feb 08, 2017, 15:55 ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the heels of a wave of Teamster strikes at the University of California, 26 California State Assembly Members have sent a letter to UC President Janet Napolitano, urging a "speedy and fair resolution" of the labor dispute. The legislators called upon Napolitano to provide leadership to address the issues of declining real wages and worker hunger at the University.

"UC is the state's leading public educational, research, and medical institution; it is also California's economic engine, the third largest employer in the state, and an anchor employer in many communities," the letter said. "[T]he manner in which UC interacts with its workforce affects millions of Californians who might never set foot on a campus or in a medical center."

UC wages are so low that over 70% of full-time administrative support workers suffer from hunger or food insecurity, according to an Occidental College report, and real wages have declined by 24% over the past two decades. More than 92% of these workers are paid too little to afford the basic necessities of life, an Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study found.

Skilled trades workers at both UCLA and UC San Diego, also represented by Teamsters Local 2010, are paid below prevailing wage by as much as $10 an hour and have gone up to four years without a raise. The Union and the University have returned to the bargaining table in the wake of the strike actions.

"We are heartened to see our state legislators take a stand for fairness for UC workers who are struggling due to low wages," said Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010. "The time has come for UC to heed this call, reach a fair agreement with the workers, and end this costly and disruptive labor dispute."

Teamsters Local 2010 represents approximately 12,000 administrative support workers across the UC system, as well as the approximately 800 electricians, elevator mechanics, plumbers, and facilities workers at UCLA and UC San Diego.

CONTACT: Christian Castro, Telephone: (213) 247-9500
Email: [email protected]
Website: Teamsters2010.org

SOURCE Teamsters Local 2010