Clearly, there is a legitimate cost-of-living issue for TAs at UC-Santa Cruz.
Also clear is that there is a union negotiated contract covering the TAs in effect from August, 2018 until August, 2022. This contract includes a no-strike clause.
No one is forced to get a masters or PhD in an elite California coastal community.
The obvious solution is to raise resident tuition rates at UC schools in order to fund a livable wage for UC system employees.