Dozens of University of California employees and union representatives told the Board of Regents at its July meeting that recent layoffs and contract proposals are harming workers, patients and campus services.
Speakers from multiple campuses described recent layoffs at UCSD and other locations and argued that contract decisions — including a reported proposal to remove caps on employee health-care cost increases — would worsen staffing shortages and jeopardize patient care.
Nurses, resident physicians, custodians, library staff and other employees gave personal accounts. Catherine Mullahian, a nurse at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and a bargaining-team member, said workers who “deliver world class care” are alarmed at the university’s negotiating positions and presented a petition signed by thousands demanding “no cuts on health care.” Kristen Delmarty, a pediatric nurse and California Nurses Association bargaining-team member, said more than 200 employees were fired at UCSD and UCSF the week of June 23 and called the timing “a slap in the face” after management received salary increases. She told the regents, “We have 25,000 UC nurses ready to fight.”
Several speakers identified layoffs at campus libraries as particularly painful. Fariba Saragat, a former UC San Diego library administrator who said she and more than 25 colleagues received layoff notices, called the cuts personal and destructive: “We are not numbers.” John Espiritu, another recently laid‑off UCSD library associate, asked the board to reconsider the cuts and said the library has faced “disproportionate budget cuts year in and year out.” Candy Stangler, a laid‑off worker who said she is nine months pregnant, told the board she lost health insurance within 48 hours of being laid off.
Resident physicians and trainee speakers also urged immediate wage increases. Dr. Campbell Veasey, a second‑year emergency medicine resident, said a 3.2% wage increase has not kept up with costs; he described the existing increase as inadequate to retain trainees and avoid overtime and moonlighting.
Speakers asked the board to prioritize safe staffing, job security, benefit protections and fair bargaining outcomes. Multiple speakers requested that board members accept petitions and urged more active engagement in contract negotiations. The regents did not respond during the meeting; the chair said public comments would be referred to appropriate staff for follow up.
No formal actions or votes were recorded in open session on layoffs, bargaining or contract changes during the meeting.