A University of California-wide strike took place on Feb. 26 and 27 as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 called on workers to protest against the unfair labor practices administered by the UC . With many janitorial and dining staff involved in the strike, students on the Hill have felt the impact of their absence.
On Feb. 24, UCLA Housing had sent out an email detailing the changes to maintenance and dining facilities accounting for a significant shortage in food service and janitorial staff. Along with modifications to dining service menus and bathroom cleaning schedules, three additional food trucks were added on the Hill during the dinner and extended dinner periods, and takeout options such as Rendezvous, Bruin Café and The Study at Hedrick were temporarily closed. According to the email, UCLA Housing remains “fully committed to providing a safe and respectful living environment for all students, guests and team members.”
However, students are expressing discontent with the way the institution has handled the shortage of workers.
Diana Aboul-Hosn, a second-year English student, felt disappointed by the long lines she encountered while dining at Feast at Rieber, stating that the wait times for food added to the stress she was already experiencing from schoolwork.
“It was filled to the brim with people,” she said. “I don’t know who was monitoring the doors, but they let everybody in without accounting for how many people were already inside.”
Cameron Gonzalez, a third-year art student, said limited food options provided by dining facilities during the strike did not accommodate those with dietary restrictions. “I live on campus and rely on the dining hall for all of my food,” he said. “I don’t eat meat or dairy … for breakfast I was only able to eat a spoonful of potatoes, which was unfulfilling.”
He additionally said he faced disruptions during the University Professional and Technical Employees CWA 9119 strike between Feb. 26 and 28 that also challenged the UC’s unfair labor practices, claiming he was unable to access the equipment needed for his sculpture and ceramic assignments. “It’s very stressful,” Gonzalez said. “Especially as we’re reaching the end of the [quarter].”
Xitlaly Munguia, a first-year psychology student, relates to Gonzalez’s sentiments regarding the difficulties of adjusting to the changes made in dining while preparing for upcoming exams. She lost her usual studying spot because of the closure of takeout facilities. “[Students] may miss a meal because there’s too many people and [they] need a place to focus,” she said. “I really needed to go to The Study to concentrate on my work, but they were closed.”
The overcrowding and limited options at dining facilities were not the only issues students listed. Rieber Hall resident and first-year nursing student, Ximena Cruz-Flores, observed that the communal bathrooms were unkempt, containing no soap in the dispensers or toilet paper in the stalls.
Still, Cruz-Flores said she was affected “very minimally” by the strike and is more concerned about the university mistreating staff.
Gonzalez reflected the above concerns about the institution’s actions that have led to the strike, asserting the UC has not only failed its workers, but its students. “It just seems like the university is not acknowledging the real concerns of both staff and students who make this university what it is,” Gonzalez said. “[We] play an important role in this institution and that is not being recognized.”
For second-year cognitive science student Yamileth Robles, the strike deeply resonated with her personal life. “My mother is a housekeeper, so it’s very disheartening to see the school I attend participate in underpaying their hard workers,” she stated. “I see my parents in them, and I just want the best for them.”
In conclusion, even though students have encountered setbacks in their daily routines as a result of the strike, they still recognize the dining and janitorial staff as valuable to the university and deserving of having their demands met. It is evident that UCLA Housing can only meet its goal of providing a safe and respectful environment for all if both staff and student concerns are addressed efficiently.
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Featured Image: Members of the AFSCME Local 3299 and UPTE-CWA 9119 strike at UCLA. UPTE-CWA 9119 went on strike against the UC from Wednesday (2/26) through Friday (2/28) and AFSCME Local 3299 from Wednesday (2/26) to Thursday (2/27). Photographed by Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin.
