NEW YORK: Unions representing 110,000 University of California workers demanded that the system divest holdings from Blackstone Inc, including a recent US$4bil (RM17.34bil) investment with its massive real estate trust.
The groups are contending that the relationship with the private equity firm will worsen the housing shortage for students and employees, according to a letter dated Friday.
The University of California’s investment office struck a deal earlier this month to inject US$4bil into Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (B-REIT).
“The University of California’s current housing investment strategy combined with the bolstering of Blackstone’s B-REIT will only further deepen a hostile housing market for millions across California,” union leaders said in a letter to Jagdeep Bachher.
Bachher is the chief investment officer for the university system’s US$152bil (RM658.8bil) pension and endowment funds.
Thousands of the university’s graduate students and workers went on a month-long strike last year.
They were demanding pay increases because of the high cost of living in California, which has cities with some of the nation’s most expensive housing.
B-REIT’s US$4bil deal with the University of California came after its massive real estate trust for wealthy individuals faced pressure amid heightened withdrawal requests.
Last year, Blackstone funds paid US$12.8bil (RM55.5bil) for student-housing landlord American Campus Communities. A representative for the University of California confirmed it has received the letter and was reviewing it.
The representative also reiterated earlier comments by Bachher that the investment “is an opportunity that comes only through strong, trusted partnership” and provided the university system with a well-diversified real estate portfolio. Representatives of Blackstone didn’t respond to a request for comment. — Bloomberg
