Thousands of patient care and service providers and other workers at the University of California, represented by AFSCME Local 3299, earn “significantly less” than those who work at other colleges and hospitals in the state, according to a recent study from the Center for Labor & Community Research and The Partnership for Working Families.

The report says:

“By merely paying market wages, the university could have a significant and positive impact not just on UC employees and their families but on entire communities….”

The study was produced for Local 3299, which represents 20,000 UC employees, more than half of whom work at five medical centers. The workers are embroiled in an ongoing contract dispute over wages, which are not comparable to those paid for similar work outside the UC system. In addition, the workers want UC to create a step-increase system for wages, as well as the right to bargain over health care and to have a voice in the pension system.

Despite the UC Medical Center’s profitability (29k PDF), it pays 25 percent less than the “market rate” of surrounding communities, according to the report.