Members of unions representing 48,000 academic workers at the 10 University of California campuses have overwhelmingly voted to authorize their bargaining teams to call a strike.
Leaders of the unions — affiliated with the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) — said in a joint statement that workers were asking for fair compensation and an equitable work environment. Nearly 98 percent of the 36,558 members who voted approved the strike authorization, according to the union announcement.
Union officials called the strike authorization the largest ever by academic workers in the U.S.
“UC has left us no choice but to escalate our campaigns,” said Neal Sweeney, president of UAW 5810, which represents more than 11,000 postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers.
Sweeney said in the statement that negotiations have dragged on for more than a year.
“But rather than coming to fair agreements, the University has engaged in a wide variety of unlawful tactics,” he said. “The UAW locals at UC have been forced to file more than 20 unfair labor practices to address their refusal to provide the information we need to bargain unilateral changes to our working conditions and more.”
“UC’s unlawful conduct is preventing us from reaching fair agreements that guarantee equity and dignified compensation,” said Rafael Jaime, president of UAW 2865, which represents more than 19,000 teaching assistants, tutors, and readers. “Extremely low compensation – many workers make less than $24,000 a year – is leaving workers severely rent burdened and struggling to remain in academia. UC’s failure to support a diverse workforce undermines the quality of research and education across the system.”
Tarini Hardikar was one of the members who approved the strike authorization. She is a bargaining team member with Student Researchers United-UAW, which represents more than 17,000 student researchers in the University of California system.
“I do this in solidarity with all 48,000 of my colleagues. It is insulting and unacceptable that UC is breaking the law instead of fairly negotiating cost of living adjustments which will determine whether or not many of us can afford to continue our work here.”
The University of California is currently in contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) regarding four separate academic bargaining units: Postdoctoral Scholars, Academic Researchers, Academic Student Employees (teaching assistants/readers/tutors), and Graduate Student Researchers, said Ryan King, a spokesperson for the University of California Office of the President. “Our primary goal in these negotiations is achieving multiyear agreements that recognize these employees’ important and highly valued contributions to the University’s teaching and research mission with fair pay, quality health and family-friendly benefits, and a supportive and respectful work environment.”
King added the University of California has provided fair responses to UAW on priority issues of concern to all four bargaining units, including in areas of fair pay, a respectful work environment, and housing.
“We have listened carefully to UAW priorities with an open mind and a genuine willingness to compromise,” King said. “Negotiations are progressing, and many tentative agreements have been reached on key issues such as a respectful work environment and health and safety matters. We are committed to continuing to negotiate in good faith and reaching full agreements as soon as possible.”
