Thursday, February 27, 2025 12:12AM Thousands of University of California physician assistants, optometrists, and other health care and custodial workers went on strike Wednesday. SAN FRANCISCO — Tens of thousands of University of California physician assistants, optometrists, and other health care and custodial workers went on strike Wednesday over alleged unfair labor practices and staffing shortages. The strikes by two unions representing nearly 60,000 health care and service workers are separate and come after the unions and 10-campus university system failed to reach a new contract. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, or AFSCME Local 3299, and the University Professional Technical Employees (UPTE)-CWA Local 9119, or UPTE, also went on strike in November alleging unfair bargaining tactics, which the university system denied. AFSCME Local 3299 represents about 37,000 employees, including respiratory therapists, pharmacy techs, mental health workers, custodians and gardeners. It said the strike comes weeks after it filed new charges with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board over what it says are unfair labor practices by the university. “Instead of addressing the decline in real wages that has fueled