Hundreds of UC San Diego service workers hit the picket line Monday to protest unfair wages. It marked the beginning of a five-day walkout at University of California facilities across the state.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees officials say their workers' wages are dramatically lower than those paid to community college workers in the state.
The union's Jorge Olvera is a groundskeeper who has been working at UCSD for 23 years. He says the strike was the only option.
<b> Olvera: </b> There's no loyalty coming back from this university in terms of the years that we spent for this institution. It's not just about money. It's about respect and dignity for the workers who have given this university the best years of their lives. I think it's a shame that ninety-six percent of the workers have to quality for some sort of financial assistance from this state.
UC officials say they want talks to resume, and for strikers to go back to work.
