Marissa Wenzke at CBS News in Los Angeles reports UCLA and UC Irvine are among the University of California Campuses where more than 20,000 Health Care, Research and Technical Employees have commenced an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) Strike. The University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America (UPTE-CWA) Local 9119 is leading the Strike over two key concerns which are at the center of a complaint the Union filed with a State Labor Board. According to UPTE-CWA, the University of California has refused to bargain over wages for several hundred Employees that have become newly accredited Members of the Union and has imposed higher health care costs on some UPTE Members. As a result, the Union says, those issues have led to a worsening of an already concerning staffing shortage, hurting patient care and the support of UC research. Nearly 40,000 UC Service and Patient Care Workers with another Union - the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299, joining the Strike - calling it a "sympathy Strike" meant as a show of solidarity.

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: UCLA, UC Irvine among campuses where 20,000 UC workers are staging statewide strike - CBS Los Angeles

Photo Courtesy Of UPTE-CWA Local 9119’s Facebook Page.