University of California confirmed union supporters protested over contracted valet employees at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 3299, UC's largest employee union, announced the protest July 26, saying participants were protesting "the outsourcing of frontline jobs and the treatment of contract workers at UC."
Currently, the medical center contracts valet employees through vendor ABM. About three months ago, UCLA notified ABM of the hospital's plans to insource valet services, officials said in an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review. The hospital said it encouraged current valet employees working for ABM to apply for the newly insourced positions, which include both full-time and variable-time jobs.
However, John de los Angeles, communications director of the union, claims the hospital is not offering as many new positions as there are current valet employees, according to a Daily Bruin report. Ultimately, the union said, it "supports efforts by the outsourced UCLA contract valet drivers to be directly employed by UC."
The protest comes amid universitywide negotiations with AFSCME. About two months ago, UC presented an offer to AFCSME that included a step pay increase each year of the contract, as well as health benefits at the same rate that other UC employees pay, and the ability to choose between UC's traditional pension or a retirement savings plan similar to a 401k.
But hospital officials said that offer was rejected by the union. Another negotiating session is scheduled for Aug. 8.
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