Workers at University of California campuses across the state began a three-day strike Monday largely focused on pay inequality between UC executives and lower paid service workers.
Custodians, food service workers, gardeners and other UC employees represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 are demanding more pay, affordable health care and job security.
AFSCME is fighting for a 6 percent annual pay raise for workers over a period of four years and are expected to be joined on Tuesday in a sympathy strike by nurses, pharmacists and radiologists.
The strike comes just over one year after a state audit found UC President Janet Napolitano's office hid $175 million in a secret fund that "provided its employees with generous salaries and atypical benefits."