UC workers press regents for higher pay, benefits and conversion of contingent staff to UC employees

Multiple UC employees and union members used public comment to press the Regents for higher wages, parity with represented staff and conversion of contingent workers into full UC employment.

Carmen Lee, an auto equipment operator at UCSF and member of AFSCME 3299, said, “Every day that goes by without a fair contract is another day that you all make my life harder,” and described rising housing and utility costs. Nanette Tarosa, a patient dining ambassador at UC Irvine Fountain Valley, said patient dining workers have been “excluded from not only the benefits and wages” and demanded to “be brought on board [as] UC Irvine employees immediately.”

Speakers repeatedly contrasted large pay increases for top administrators with staff pay. Naomi Nakamura, a pharmacy technician at UCSF and AFSCME 3299 member, said speakers were being asked to accept far smaller increases while chancellors and the president received large raises; she paraphrased the offer to senior leaders as “a 79% base pay increase” and said many service workers remain near the poverty line.

Union and contractor concerns were also raised. Christian Arteaga, of the Carpenters union, urged procurement changes to favor local contractors who pay family‑sustaining wages and follow safety and training standards.

Comments were delivered during public comment and bargaining representatives said they would be present throughout the meeting. No formal bargaining agreement or board vote was recorded in the public comment segment of the transcript.