Dear Campus Community,
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME)–which represents University of California employees who work in patient care, dining, custodial, transportation and other service areas–has announced it will hold a two-day systemwide labor strike Feb. 26–27 at all UC campuses and medical centers.
The strike will include both the Patient Care Technical Unit (EX) and the Service Unit (SX). Additionally, University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) has announced it will hold a three-day state-wide strike during the same time period, Feb. 26–28.
We anticipate the strikes will have noticeable impacts to the services provided by campus dining, transit, and health services. Up-to-date information for the campus community will be published on the UC Santa Cruz website at ucsc.edu/status.
We will be focusing our efforts on instructional and operational continuity, to fulfill our mission of teaching, research, and public service. In preparation for the upcoming labor strike, I want to share some important information and resources that I hope will be helpful.
Highlights
- Focusing on instructional and operational continuity
- UCSC supports protected free speech activities
- Blocking access roads violates law and campus policy, harms members of the campus community
Focusing on instructional and operational continuity
The Academic Senate provided guidance on instructional flexibility, given the anticipated impacts to campus services, including transportation and dining. Students are encouraged to watch for any updates from their instructors.
Though we do not know precisely how these strike activities might impact the operation of the residential campus, we are working to do everything we can to ensure continued operations. The campus community should anticipate the following:
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Transportation and Parking:
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Transportation delays should be expected because our Campus Transit drivers are represented by AFSCME. Our limited number of management personnel will be providing Campus Transit services to the extent possible.
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During strike activity, METRO buses may choose not to access the residential campus. We anticipate buses will drop riders off at the Barn Theater, where riders may be able to board limited shuttles nearby, bike, or walk to access the campus core. We highly recommend that everyone carefully plan their trips onto and off campus and give themselves plenty of time to reach their destinations.
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Transportation & Parking Services (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, Silicon Valley Connector as well as most campus circulator services.
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Parking permit requirements will remain in place during strike activities. Reduced transportation options may result in an increased demand for parking on the residential campus. Parkmobile is available for on-demand parking permits via the app at designated locations at UCSC. Please refer to the parking map for locations around campus. Additionally, eligible affiliates may purchase Daily A Permits via our virtual permitting portal.
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Dining: Dining Services will open locations based on staff and resource availability. Please check the campus status page for live dining updates.
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Health services:
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The Student Health Center will remain open, though appointment availability and services may be limited during the strike. Students with urgent concerns are encouraged to contact or visit the health center for prompt assessment and triage. If same-day appointments aren’t available, students may be referred to nearby urgent care. For support, call the 24/7 nurse advice line at (831) 459–2591, or visit the after-hours healthcare webpage for telehealth and off-campus healthcare options.
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CAPS will offer limited services, focusing on 24/7 crisis services. Please call 831–459–2628 for both daytime and after-hour crisis services. The Campus Mobile Crisis Team will continue operations and can be reached at 831–502–9988. For additional urgent mental health resources, please visit UC Santa Cruz’s crisis assistance webpage. Off-campus healthcare resources can be found on the after-hours healthcare webpage.
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UCSC supports protected free speech activities
UC Santa Cruz is committed to ensuring that all people may exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, and assembly. The ongoing opportunity for the expression of a variety of viewpoints is at the core of this commitment. The right to free speech in a university includes the right to acts of peaceful dissent, protests in peaceable assembly, and orderly, nondisruptive demonstrations which include non-obstructive picketing.
The campus’s interim Conduct Regulations protect the right to free speech and expressive activities at UC Santa Cruz while preserving the right to access to education, residences, and campus facilities free from obstruction. The campus’s Free Speech website provides additional information.
No employee is ever obligated to engage in collective labor activities, such as striking, picketing, or protesting. Unions are legally prohibited from threatening or coercing members in other ways to keep them from coming to work. Academic and staff employees should remain in contact with their supervisors, managers, and chairs to discuss their schedules and work locations when warranted.
For questions, staff may call their Employee & Labor Relations analyst in Staff HR or email elrinfo@ucsc.edu. Academic employees may reach out to their divisional Academic HR office.
If you feel you are being threatened, harassed, or intimidated about crossing the picket line, or are prevented from working by picketers or striking employees, please immediately notify your supervisor and your campus employee and labor relations office. In cases of emergency, please dial 9–1–1.
Blocking access roads harms members of the campus community
Preventing vehicles or individuals from entering or leaving campus, either by blocking roadways and intersections or by remaining in a crosswalk after the light has turned red, violates the law and campus policy, while also imposing burdens on those who already must overcome obstacles in their day. Students, staff, and faculty face additional difficulty getting to their classes, offices, and homes because buses are unable to cross onto campus. Parents face uncertainty or delays taking their children to school or childcare. Students, staff, faculty and their families living on campus experience delays and stress about getting to off-campus jobs or appointments on time. Blocking or reducing access to campus entrances can result in discipline for both students and employees.
I encourage everyone to be patient and understanding during this time and to stay informed by visiting ucsc.edu/status.
Sincerely,
Lori
Lori Kletzer Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
