UC Employees to Strike, Expect Many More Strikes

With the price of gas skyrocketing and the dollar plunging, the purchasing power of Americans has been greatly reduced. This strike marks the beginning of what will be a cycle of labor actions over the next few years as as workers try to regain parity with the shocks.

As many as 8,500 University of California employees may hit the picket lines beginning Monday to protest a deadlock over wage increases.

The strike involves workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, who perform housekeeping, cafeteria and security services on UC campuses. The strike is planned to run though Friday at UC’s 10 campuses and five medical centers, including UC Davis facilities in Sacramento and Davis. source Sacbee.com

Because governments are facing huge budget deficits and tax increases would further stall a faltering economy, money for wage increases would have to come from other programs. The private sector is similarly limited. Slow business, severe competition and cheaper off shore labor and manufacturing costs prevent businesses from raising prices to cover increased costs and offer wage and salary increases.

Expect difficult times ahead.