The strike continues and widens today at UC San Diego and other UC campuses across the state. 2 Mauro Díaz are set to join -- and walking off the job. The striking custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers and lab technicians and nurses aides have made an impact. On Monday, the first day of the plant three-day strike, 12,000 medical procedures had to be rescheduled along with some dining services and classes on UC campuses. Joining me is Matt Hoffman who has been covering the strike at the Jacobs medical center. >> What was Athena like different seemed like outside the Jacobs medical center? >> There were probably a couple hundred at least. They were out there with megaphones and were chanting. Some people were driving by and honking, and some were waiting. Very busy scene out there. >> Are there many -- are there any estimates on how many people are participating in this statewide? >> About 9000 service workers. >> Houses affecting patient care and UC medical centers? >> They had to reschedule some surgeries. As far as the trauma unit, they are redirecting some ambulances. We had a chance to speak with the chief executive officer at the San Diego Health Center system. >> We started scheduling elective surgeries, rescheduling them. That allowed us to help manage patient volume. In these situations, you go on what is called emergency department and trauma bypass which means that the ambulances take the patient's to other regional health symptoms -- systems. >> A woman spoke to me said her husband just had cancer surgery and was supposed to go for a follow-up appointment yesterday. He was not allowed to go because the doctor told him he did not have any support staff so he had to have that rescheduled. >> What are the workers striking about? >> The union say they have been in these negotiations for over a year and have not been able to reach a deal. The union says 80% pay increase is not enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. Another reason for striking is they say is for their patients, the people they take care of. One man said low wages and understaffing is affecting the quality of care. >> If you have shortness of breath, and the person in the next room to you has severe shortness of breath, I am not going to go see you. I am going to go see them. >> San Diego help says a strongly dispute what that representative said from the union. They say patient safety is their top priority. >> I read that you see workers say the cost of their healthcare is also going up. Is that is something they are trying to do with? >> In their contract, they UC -- UC offered to do a 25% week -- cap. They brought that cost in line to what other UC employees are paying. >> The UC system made a final offer that was rejected by these workers. >> UC says they offered a 3% across-the-board increase each year for four years less a one-time payment of $750. The union was asking for closer to 20% off -- for three years. The union says that they need pay that keeps up with the rising cost of living. >> We have seen teachers and states walk off the job. Are workers here feeling energized by other strikes? >> They are feeling very energized I all these other people that are joining them. The registered nurses, technical workers. These workers feel very good to have the support of people they work with. I think there's definitely a lot of support here. >> What happens tomorrow after the strike ends? >> They have to come back and try to get a new multi-year deal. The UC says they oppose the to percent increase until they come back to the bargaining table to come back to the deal, that is what it will be.
Thousands of University of California service workers will continue a three-day strike Tuesday, with pickets planned at campuses and medical facilities across the state, including at UCLA and UC Irvine Medical Center.
Service workers represented by Local 3299 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees began the walkout Monday, demanding higher salaries and bolstered staffing. UC officials have repeatedly criticized the union for calling the strike, accusing it of rejecting an offer of "fair, multi-year wage increases and excellent medical and retirement benefits."
RELATED: UC Employees Hit Picket Lines For Three-Day Strike
The strike got off to a rocky start Monday at UCLA, where a motorist apparently got impatient and tried to drive through the picketers crossing a street. Witnesses said the man first got out of his SUV with a stick, threatening picketers, then got back in his car and tried to drive through the crowd.
Police said three people suffered minor injuries in the clash. The driver was taken into custody.
In light of the impasse in contract talks, the university system last month imposed contract terms on the union for the 2017-18 fiscal year, including 2 percent pay increases. The UC's latest contract offer to the union included annual 3 percent raises over the next four years, according to the university.
The union denounced the move to impose contract terms, responding by issuing a notice of a strike set to last until Wednesday.
"We've bargained in good faith for over a year to address the widening income,racial and gender disparities that front-line, low-wage workers at UC are living every day," AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger said. "Instead of joining us in the effort to arrest these trends, UC has insisted on deepening them -- leaving workers no option but to strike."
UC officials issued a statement saying they "strongly disagree with AFSCME's decision to strike, which will negatively impact patients, students and the UC community."
"We are doing everything in our power to limit disruptions on our campuses and medical centers to ensure our patients get the care they need and our students the services they deserve," according to the UC.
The UC insisted that its service workers -- including custodians, gardeners, food service workers and facilities maintenance staff -- are compensated at or above the market rate, "and in some cases, by as much as 17 percent higher than comparable jobs."
University officials said the union is demanding a 6 percent annual wage increase, "which is twice what other UC employees have received."
They said their final officer included, in addition to the pay raises, a lump-sum payment upon contract ratification, health benefits consistent with those of other workers and continuation of pension benefits for existing employees. New employees would be given a choice between a pension or 401(K)-style retirement plan.
Lybarger, however, accused the university of "subverting" the bargaining process by imposing contract terms on workers.
"Administrators are already showing us that we can expect more unequal treatment if we don't stand up, fight back and hold UC accountable to its hollow claims of `pioneering a better future,"' Lybarger said.
According to the union, the strike will involve 9,000 service workers, but they will be joined by more than 15,000 Patient Care Technical workers.
The union represents workers such as security guards, groundskeepers, custodians, respiratory therapists, nursing aides and surgical technicians. The workers span UC's 10 campuses, five medical centers, numerous clinics and research laboratories, according to the union.
