On May 22nd, University of California workers, represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, announced that a settlement has been reached with the University of California to address the wage equity fight for custodians at UC Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz and to end the practice of outsourcing groundskeepers at UC Irvine. The settlement includes an immediate initial wage increase of $1.25 per hour for custodians at UC Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. This wage increase is retroactive to April 2007 and will be additionally increased by $.50 per hour in October, 2007.

“I am extremely excited about our victory. Over the past year, custodians and groundskeepers at UC Berkeley, Irvine, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz have been fighting to have the University recognize the substandard wages that they were receiving. This is an important first step in having the University address the issue of sustainable and market rate wages for all their employees” said Rosario Cortez, custodian, UC Santa Cruz. Read More

previous coverage: UC Students Occupy Berkeley "Anti-Poverty" Center in Support of Custodians || Danny Glover Joins Boycott Against the University of California || UCSC Student Government Resolution for Wage Parity || The Day the University Ground to a Halt - April 14, 2005