When the clock struck 12 a.m. on Nov. 20, the American Federation of State, Country, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) system-wide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike officially began. 

Six hours later, students, community members, and unionized workers picketed at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus. By 10 a.m., more than a hundred people were gathered in protest.

“We are here because the university [broke] the law,” said Janet Mucino, a member of AFSCME’s executive board for Santa Cruz and a senior custodian in UCSC Custodial Services. “They broke the law and the reason why they break the law is because they don’t go to the negotiation table in good faith.”

AFSCME filed the ULP charge against the Regents of the University of California on Oct. 10. According to the charge, the UC Regents did not carry out negotiations in good faith, changed health insurance expenses, and withheld necessary bargaining information from unionized workers.

Read City on a Hill Press’ most recent coverage of AFSCME’s contracts that are under negotiation here.

 A combination of union members, students, faculty, and community members carried signs across Bay and High Street throughout the course of the strike. Photos 2, 3, 5 by Kyle James Allemand. Photos 1, 4, 6 Reggie Sasaki.

As a result of the strike, transit going on- and off-campus was disrupted. Many loop bus drivers are represented by the union and did not drive during the strike. Metro bus drivers were also given the option to cross the picket line. If they chose not to, metro drivers dropped students off at the base of campus.

On-campus dining services were also affected. Out of all the dining options, only the College 9/John R. Lewis Dining Hall, the Porter Market, and the Merrill Market remained open throughout the duration of the strike. 

Groups such as Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and People’s Aid provided food for attendees throughout the morning and afternoon. YDSA’s executive committee member Addie Wolstenholm believes picketing at the base of campus speaks to a collective effort on behalf of the UCSC community. 

“We’re trying to be around, be supportive, take action where we can,” Wolstenholm said. “That looks like doing food distribution so students don’t have to cross the picket line to get the food on campus.”

At around 11 a.m., members of the Santa Cruz Revolutionary Student Organization (RSO), among other students, marched to the base of campus to join in solidarity with the strike. Chants from the gathered crowds continued to fill the air as the day went on:

Photo by Kyle James Allemand.

Around 11 a.m., members of Santa Cruz Revolutionary Student Organization arrived at the base of campus carrying banners reading, “WORKERS AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE OF THE WORLD UNITE,” and “EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMÁS SERÁ VENCIDO.”

“UC, UC, you’re no good!”

“Treat your workers like you should!”

Midway through the picketing, attendees gathered near the UCSC campus sign to hear the words of both facilitators and supporters of the strike. Some were presented by members of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), expressing complete support and solidarity with AFSCME’s demands.

“AFSCME has consistently demonstrated solidarity with student workers and with SJP and Palestine,” an SJP speaker said. “We are infinitely grateful to be in community with you all today. SJP stands in absolute solidarity with AFSCME’s union and members, and we support this strike … As SJP, we especially support ASFCME’s demands to divest from Blackstone.”

The strike is part of ongoing negotiations between the regents and unionized workers, but the picket line served as a demonstration of community and the solidarity between UCSC students and workers.

Picket size would grow from 25 in the early morning to upwards of 100 by the end of the day. Photos 1, 3 by Kyle James Allemand. Photos 2, 4 by Reggie Sasaki.

“It is the dining workers, the janitorial workers, the healthcare workers that run the UC and that [students] interact with,” Wolstenholm said. “So, it’s important for them to be aware of what is happening and how it affects them directly and also how it affects the people who give them a quality of life on campus.”

Many AFSCME 3299 striking workers brought their pets to the picket line. Photo by Reggie Sasaki.