Campus News
AFSCME open-ended labor strike beginning May 14
We anticipate the strike will have noticeable impacts to the services provided by health services, transportation, and dining. We will be focusing our efforts on instructional and operational continuity, to fulfill our mission of teaching, research, and public service.
Dear Campus Community,
The University of California has been informed that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 service workers (SX) and patient care technical workers (EX) will begin an open-ended labor strike on Thursday, May 14. Picketing will take place at the base of campus.
We anticipate the strike will have noticeable impacts to the services provided by health services, transportation, and dining. 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 harms members of the campus community
Focusing on instructional and operational continuity
The Academic Senate has 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:
- Transportation and Parking:
- Transportation delays may occur during strike activity. Our limited number of management personnel will be providing Campus Transit services to the extent possible.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dining:
- Dining Services will be providing dining services across campus to the best extent possible with minimized staffing, and limited operations can be expected during this time. Dining will continue to operate during the strike period, with locations and hours adjusted based on staffing and resource availability. Students are encouraged to check for real-time updates throughout the day for open locations. Students may experience limited menus or modified service formats during this time.
- Live updates on open locations, hours, and service changes will be posted on the Campus Status page, the Dining Services Instagram account, and the UCSC Dining website. For additional information, including dietary resources and campus food access options, students can visit the Dining website’s food security and nutrition pages.
- Health services:
- The Student Health Center, lab, and pharmacy will continue to operate, though may have reduced appointments and services available during the strike period. Students are encouraged to contact or visit the health center for urgent concerns. Students will be triaged and offered a same-day appointment, as needed. If same-day appointments are unavailable, students may be referred to nearby urgent care facilities to receive timely assistance. For support, students can call the 24/7 free nurse advice line at (831) 459-2591. For more details about off-campus healthcare resources, please visit the after-hours healthcare webpage.
- CAPS will continue to offer counseling services, including daytime and after-hours crisis services. For assistance, including after hours and weekend crisis services, please call 831-459-2628. Help is available 24 hours a day. The Campus Mobile Crisis Team will continue normal 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.
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 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,
Paul
Paul Koch
Interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor