Yee hits streets to show solidarity with striking University of California workers

State Sen. Leland Yee speaks to striking medical workers: Photo courtesy of Sen. YeeDespite a judge's order saying that a strike could potentially place patient safety in jeopardy, state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, joined striking UC San Francisco Medical Center workers Monday in a show of political solidarity.

More than 8,500 service workers represented by AFSCME Local 3299 began what may be a 5-day-long strike at ten UC campuses and five medical centers protesting substandard wages and working conditions.

In a release Yee note that the workers do everything from cleaning and disinfecting hospitals and dorm rooms, to providing cafeteria service for patients and students, to providing security throughout the UC system.

"It is unconscionable what the UC administration is doing to these workers and their families," Yee said in a statement. "The wages of these workers are dramatically behind other hospitals and even California's community colleges, where workers average 25 percent more for the same work. UC hospitals made over $371 million in profits last year, yet they refuse to provide the workers a fair wage," Yee said. "While UC executives live high on the hog, workers, students, and patients are left in the cold."

Yee noted that for some UC workers, wages are as low as $10 an hour and that a vast majority of them qualify for some kind of public assistance program.

Meanwhile, later Monday morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement saying that he supported the court's actions in trying to restrain the UCSF workers from striking.

"Public safety is my No. 1 priority and this strike could affect the health and well being of many people who rely on the critical services provided by medical support staff," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "While there may be legitimate issues to be resolved, it is unacceptable to use the welfare of innocent people as a bargaining chip."

The governor added that UC system negotiators have offered pay raises to patient care workers averaging 30 percent over five years, and raises for service employees which would (in addition to other raises received under their expired contract) total 8 percent over the one year running from October 2007 through September 2008. Service employees would have the opportunity to further negotiate with UC officials after passage of a state budget.