Approximately 40 members of the American Federation of State County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) marched in front of the Reagan UCLA Hospital, Wednesday calling for better salaries and benefits from UC to help them live where they work.
Monica Martinez is an Administrative Clinical Care Partner who told KNX News' Pete Demetriou she's struggling to make ends meet.
"Let's just stay with what I get paid here a month; after taxes, I can only pay my rent and my car payment," said Martinez.
AFSCME leadership contrasts the pay differences with what the university provides academic employees and administrators - not just higher salaries but access to benefits.
According to Martinez, the UCs " Provide low-interest and reduced-interest loans for executives to get a home, and they also provide housing for them, so I don't see why they can't do that for the front-line workers who actually need it."
The union says they're continuing negotiations with the university in hopes of reaching some kind of an accord on both wages and housing assistance funding, but they're not optimistic about a settlement anytime soon.
KNX News has contacted University leadership for comment on the union claims but has not heard back.
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