Earlier this week, our campus community received notification about the announced systemwide labor strike at UC campuses beginning Monday, November 14, if a resolution at the bargaining tables is not reached prior to that date. Bargaining is ongoing through this weekend. As we support the right of our postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers, academic student employees, and graduate student researchers to engage in lawful strike activity, we recognize you likely have many questions about how this possible strike could impact your day-to-day campus life.
While bargaining remains ongoing, we wanted to take some time now to provide you with information about what to expect on campus during the strike, what resources are available to support you, and how you might prepare for the potential impacts of the strike.
What to expect on campus
Campus dining: At this time, we are planning to open all dining locations Monday, though dining hall hours may be limited from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the types of prepared food available may be limited or varied from the menus currently posted online.
In the event that demonstrations block access to campus, UCSC Dining will focus operations based on staff and resource availability, with an emphasis to keep the following dining halls open:
- College Nine/John R Lewis Dining Hall
- Porter/Kresge Dining Hall
- Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall
Live dining updates will be posted via Twitter at twitter.com/ucscdining, Instagram at instagram.com/ucscdining, and on the Dining website dining.ucsc.edu/calendar.
Campus Transportation: Campus Transit shuttles will be operational. We do, however, encourage you to plan for possible delays. Potential strike-related disruptions at the main and/or west campus entrances may result in transportation delays, including the inability of METRO buses to access campus. In that situation, we anticipate that METRO campus routes will instead stop at the Barn Theater, and riders can board a Campus Transit shuttle nearby. The campus will post directional signage to help guide those METRO passengers to a Campus Transit shuttle.
TAPS Transit Operations will give highest priority to providing Disability Van Service (DVS) clients transport between on-campus locations while suspending the Bike Shuttle, Westside Connector, and modifying regular Loop and Upper Campus services as needed.
What additional resources are available to you
Redwood Free Market: Redwood Free Market plans to be open for normal business hours, including graduate student hours on Wednesday from 2 to 5 p.m. If this changes, Redwood Free Market will notify the campus community through Redwood Free Market social media outlets. Note: In addition to Wednesday’s graduate student only hours, graduate students are always welcome to come to Redwood Free Market any other time it is open.Pop-up Produce Program: The pop-up produce program is planning to do distribution at the base of campus on Wednesday and Friday. Redwood Free Market will provide dry food items to give away along with the produce offered.
Cowell Coffee Shop: Cowell Coffee shop will be distributing prepared meals Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2 p.m. at Redwood Free Market and the base of campus.
Slug Support: Slug Support plans to be open for virtual and in-person services Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. If staff are unable to be on campus, virtual appointments and the crisis line will remain available. Any student experiencing immediate food insecurity is encouraged to reach out to Slug Support via our crisis line (831-459-7003) or walk in if available. Students can also email the deanofstudents@ucsc.eduto be connected to a Slug Support case manager.
Student Health Services: We are planning for Student Health Services to be open during the strike, but services may be limited. CAPS services will be available, but may be offered remotely. For medical advice, contact the Nurse Advice Line at 831-459-2591. For urgent matters or emergencies, please refer to the after hours webpage for information on how to get care when SHS is closed. If you are experiencing emotional or psychological distress, call 831-459-2628 or go to the crisis assistance webpage.
Division of Student Affairs and Success, Graduate Division, and College Student Life: All units and offices in the Division of Student Affairs and Success, the Graduate Division, and across College Student Life will continue supporting students throughout the strike. While all offices plan to be physically open, some staff may be working remotely. Offices may move to virtual support if access to campus is impacted.
How to prepare for the potential of a labor strike
Stay informed: The situation will likely be dynamic. The campus has established a website to help provide the campus community with real-time strike-related information, including the status of campus operations. Up-to-date information will be published on the UC Santa Cruz website at https://ucsc.edu/status. The campus may also send Cruz Alert notifications or SlugSafe notifications, as appropriate. If you haven't done so already, please make sure your contact information is current in CruzAlert, the campus's phone-based emergency notification system.
Even though a potential strike creates uncertainty, know that we remain committed to supporting you, your needs, and your learning.
In community,
Garrett Naiman
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development and Engagement and Dean of Students
Peter Biehl
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate Studies
Sue Matthews
Associate Vice Chancellor for the Colleges, Housing and Educational Services (CHES)
