After six months of bargaining with the university over wage increases, service workers employed by the University of California overwhelmingly voted in favor of walking off their jobs. In a poll that concluded voting on March 16, 92 percent said they supported a strike, though the vote does not mean that a strike will take place.

“I don’t think the university thought we could pull these kinds of numbers off,” said Jessica Lopez, an organizer for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 — the union that represents UC service workers — and a 2002 John Muir College alumna.

Voting took place at eight UC campuses from March 10 to March 16, after talks between AFSCME 3299 and the university reached an impasse. A neutral, third-party or “fact-finding” panel will attempt to resolve the differences between the sides. A report by the panel is due March 31.

“When the fact-finding is declared officially over, we can choose to take any number of actions, including a strike,” said Faith Raider, a spokeswoman for the union.

AFSCME held two rallies in the past year at Price Center, asking the university for a raise over the next three years and changes to the pay system to create higher wages based on seniority.

UC officials have responded by pointing to the state’s budget crisis and reduced funding to the university, saying that they do not have the money to meet the demands.

The university has said that it intends to avert the possibility of a strike. However, administrators could not say what will happen if one occurs, explaining that they hope a resolution can be found before a work stoppage takes place.

“Sooner rather than later, it’s really necessary that we bring a conclusion to this process,” Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Relations Rogers Davis said. “Nobody is trying to protract it.”

In the event of strike, however, the university said it would protect the service workers who choose not to partake.

“We’ll guard and protect the rights of workers who want to work and don’t want to strike,” Davis said. “We’re seeking state assistance in dealing with these issues at the bargaining table.”

The union has remained silent about the details of its actions should a strike occur, including such issues as how long work stoppage would last. In addition, the union does not have any money to compensate workers through the duration of a strike, Raider said.

By comparison, the five Southern California locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers union were able to provide partial wages for their workers during the months-long labor dispute with major grocers between October 2003 and February 2004.

The union and the university are deadlocked on an estimated 30 issues, AFSCME organizing director Jane McDonald stated in a press release. Those currently on the bargaining table include issues as varied as custodial uniforms and worker schedules.

“The university is legally required to bargain over workers’ rights, and we’re willing to negotiate,” Raider said. “But so far, [the university] has been in bad faith.”

Although it is unknown what will occur after the fact-finding proceedings with AFSCME, another union, the Coalition of University Employees, has recently seen its dispute complicated following a third-party report.

C.U.E., in negotiations with the university since July 2003, represents 18,000 clerical workers employed by the university. The union has its eyes set on adjustment of health benefits, changes to parking rates and wage increases.

Fact-finding proceedings in those talks were completed Feb. 7, followed by a 10-day period in which both parties participating in the mediation were legally required to stay silent regarding the proceedings.

C.U.E., in violation of the 10-day period, publicized the reports of the fact-finding panel, an action that the university stated would “threaten the possibility of an agreement.” Negotiations, however, are still taking place.

“Both the union and the university are obliged to bargain in good faith throughout the entire collective bargaining process, a process in which the parties are still engaged, and the university — despite the union’s repeated misconduct — continues to attempt to meet with C.U.E. representatives over possible resolutions of outstanding differences,” UC spokesman Noel Van Nyhuis stated in a February press release.