Dear UCSF Community, 

We have received a strike notice from the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union for its Research Support Professionals and Technical Units (RX and TX).  

These unions also have announced that they will strike in sympathy:

• University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union for its Health Care Professionals Unit (HX)
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union for its Service and Patient Care Technical Units (SX and EX)

The labor action will begin Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 4:00 a.m. and end on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 3:59 a.m. You can find strike updates on UCSF.edu throughout the strike.

As we have stated in advance of previous strikes, we respect our employees’ rights to representation and freedom of speech. That said, striking is a serious matter, especially when it directly affects vital public services such as patient care. 

Labor actions make a significant impact on the lives of our patients and their families. During the two strikes in 2018, thousands of patient appointments were cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled. Some of our patients had to see other providers for their care. In addition, strikes create very real tensions among colleagues.

Once again, we expect disruptions to services across UCSF, particularly at UCSF Health and the UCSF Dental Center, as well as those performed by UCSF employees at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. 

As always, our top priorities are the safety and security of the entire UCSF community – faculty, staff, learners, patients, and visitors. To support our work and minimize the impact of the strike, we have refined contingency plans based on our recent experience. 

The UC Office of the President is responsible for conducting negotiations with the unions on behalf of the UC system. We hope that UC and the unions are able to come to resolution for the other open contracts soon. 

Whether you choose to come to work or participate on the picket lines during this labor action, we urge everyone to conduct themselves in accordance with our UCSF PRIDE Values.