USC Shuttle Drivers Call Off Strike as Graduation Events Begin

USC Shuttle Drivers Call Off Strike as Graduation Events Begin
President of the University of Southern California, Carol Folt speaks at a ribbon-cutting event in Los Angeles on March 28, 2024. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
City News Service
5/10/2024
Updated:
5/10/2024
0:00

The union representing shuttle drivers and dispatchers who work for USC have reached a tentative agreement with management and called off a strike and rally May 10 that would have disrupted transportation to graduation and commencement ceremonies.

The USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers represented by SEIU Local 721 called off a planned one-day strike at the last minute when the agreement was reached Thursday.

A rally was scheduled for 11 a.m., and the plan was to skip work starting at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

More than 100 commencement events were planned for Friday, with more than 18,000 degrees to be handed out.

Shuttle service is normally available to visitors going to USC’s satellite facilities, including the Health Science Campus near Los Angeles County General Medical Center.

USC shuttle drivers and dispatchers voted to unionize in March 2023 and have been negotiating for a new contract since August. The drivers and dispatchers have been working without a contract for 10 months.