Planned UC Worker Strike Called Off

According to an email sent to UCSB staff Thursday afternoon, the looming strike by workers employed by the University of California workers throughout the state has been called off, as representatives of both university and the American Federal State County Municipal Employee (AFSCME) union have resumed bargaining on a new contract. The workers had previously pledged to strike on June 4 and 5. Had the strike happened, it would have resulted in the loss of services from about 500 UCSB employees, including maintenance workers, custodians, cooks, and gardeners, who are seeking higher pay and rejected the university’s previous offer of a 39-cent raise over the next three years. The university said state budget woes were preventing a more sizable raise, while the union said that only a portion of the money the school uses to pay workers comes from the state and that other moneys could be allotted to make up the difference.