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Union members and staff urge Regents for livable wages and fair contracts amid rising costs
Summary
Multiple staff and union representatives told the Regents that frontline workers face unaffordable housing and rising healthcare premiums while senior administrators receive large pay increases; speakers demanded contract negotiations and market adjustments.
Staff, union leaders and frontline workers used the Regents’ public comment period to press for higher wages, better benefits and fair contracts as the UC system faces inflation and proposed budget cuts.
Why it matters: Speakers described immediate financial strain among custodians, healthcare workers and other frontline staff and argued that pay, benefits and contract negotiations affect UC operations, student support and retention of essential employees.
Several speakers described personal hardship. Jacob Niles Kreher, a hospital lab technician at UCLA for seven years, said custodians and healthcare staff are “sleeping in their cars” and that many employees work multiple jobs to afford basic expenses. Michael Avant, who identified himself as president of ASME 32 99, criticized rising healthcare premiums and urged the Regents to deliver a contract that removes workers “from the red.”
Monica Martinez, who described herself as a clinical partner at UCLA and a bargaining-team member, and Eileen, a pediatric nurse representing California Nurses Association nurses, both said negotiations must produce fair contracts and warned UC not to delay bargaining. Eileen said the nurses’ union contract ends in October and urged good-faith bargaining to avoid prolonged disputes.
Commenters contrasted executive compensation with frontline wages. Jacob and others asked the Regents to prioritize pay increases for essential workers rather than sizable executive raises. Regents did not take votes during the public comment period; comments were forwarded to staff for follow-up.
The testimonials were broad, systemwide and emotional; speakers asked for specific actions such as market-adjustment salaries, improved healthcare cost-sharing, and housing supports. No formal motions or bargaining outcomes were announced at the meeting.
