AFSCME Service Unit Employees Call for Two-Day Strike June 4 and 5

AFSCME-represented Service Unit employees have called for a two-day strike on June 4 and 5. This group of employees includes bus and truck drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, material handlers, laborers, and other service-related occupations.

It is possible that other unions, such as CUE (which represents our clerical employees), UPTE (which represents employee groups such as our technicians, machinists, accelerator operators and research associates) and Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council (which represents our skilled crafts such as electricians, carpenters and plumbers) may also choose to support the AFSCME strike.

As background, the University of California has been negotiating for seven months with AFSCME for a new service unit contract. Although negotiations continue, AFSCME has voted to strike throughout the UC system, including all ten campuses and five medical centers.

In order to ensure that the Lab’s business needs are met during this strike, employees are expected to report for work as scheduled on June 4 and 5. Unless previously approved, vacation requests for the strike days may be denied except under exceptional circumstances. Employees who call in sick during the strike will be required to present medical documentation upon their return in order to be paid sick leave. Employees who miss work without advance approval will not be paid.

Additional articles about the strike will appear in Today at Berkeley Lab over the next week, and there will be further communications with supervisors and employees. For more information, contact your HR Center.