USC Shuttle Drivers and Dispatchers Call Off One-Day ULP Strike Planned to Coincide with USC Commencement Ceremonies as SEIU Local 721 and USC Management Make Last Minute Deal
LOS ANGELES — University of Southern California (USC) shuttle drivers and dispatchers represented by SEIU Local 721 called off an Unfair Labor Practice strike at the 11th hour after reaching a breakthrough tentative agreement with USC management. In light of this pivotal development, USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers cancelled a rally that had been scheduled for 11 AM today.
Originally, USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers had planned to walk off the job today at 5:30 AM for a one-day ULP strike timed to coincide with USC’s commencement ceremonies. The strike would have impacted hundreds of passengers who use the shuttle service to get around campus and USC’s multiple satellite facilities – including the Health Science Campus near LA County General Medical Center.
USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers voted to unionize in March of 2023 and have been negotiating for a contract since August. Though they have fulfilled their job duties the entire time, they have been working without a contract for nearly ten months as USC management engaged in stalling tactics and retaliatory measures – such as ending a two-decade practice of awarding annual merit-based pay increases to drivers and dispatchers, a unilateral change in working conditions that violates labor law. Other legal violations include bad faith delays to provide important information necessary for productive contract negotiations.
These labor law violations compelled USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers to authorize a ULP strike – set to start today at 5:30 AM and to coincide with USC’s commencement ceremonies. The ULP strike got called off when USC management reached out to hammer out a deal. USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers, represented by SEIU Local 721, ultimately reached a Tentative Agreement on their first union contract.
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CONTACT: Roxane Marquez, (213) 705-1078, roxane.marquez@seiu721.org
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