UC academic workers union votes in favor of strike authorization
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Student and academic workers across the University of California system are prepared to go on strike.
Yesterday, the UC Student Workers Union announced 98% of its members voted in favor of a strike authorization later this month.
BREAKING - 36,558 total votes were cast in UC Academic Workers’ Strike Authorization Votes, with 98% voting Yes to authorize a multi-unit strike if necessary. These are far and away the largest and most decisive strike authorization votes ever taken by Academic Workers in the US. pic.twitter.com/Pkm2K2SFjz
— UC Student-Workers Union UAW 2865 (@uaw2865) November 3, 2022
Their main demand is to receive higher pay to deal with the rising cost of living.
A union representative told us they they represent about 3,100 academic workers at UC Santa Barbara alone, and 48,000 workers across the UC system.
They said that this is the first time they are negotiating all four contracts at the same time for their different bargaining units.
A UC spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle that the university is offering "fair pay and good health benefits."
University of California provided the following statement:
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.
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.
The University 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. You may find more information on the offers provided to each bargaining unit in the attached fact sheet.
The University has listened carefully to UAW priorities with an open mind and a genuine willingness to compromise. 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.
University of California
In addition, UC provided a fact sheet accessible here: sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/UAW-fact-sheet_110222_FINAL.pdf.
