UCSB academic workers go on strike to demand wages and benefits that match the cost of living in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- Academic workers across the 10 University of California campuses are going on strike.

Nearly 50,000 workers walked off the job after months of negotiations with UC administrators.

University of California student workers, faculty, and undergraduate students are demanding higher pay and better benefits to keep up with the cost of living and rising inflation.

“Undergrads pay 60K a year to come here and learn from us. A lot of teachers are homeless, are a 50% rent burdened. A lot of us skip meals so we can make rent, and it's impossible to be our best teaching selves when we are starving,” said History PhD student Misa Nguyen.

Students chanted as they marched through campus Monday.

“It's incredible to see just how much support we've gotten, not only from grad students, but from undergrads,” said undergraduate student Mars Flores.

“We’re both out of state students and We're paying a lot of money to be here. And I think our education should reflect the amount of money we're paying,” said undergraduate student Emily Chowanic.

Students and faculty are urging the UC system to prioritize the financial well being of graduate students.

“The dream of public education is under attack by this university,” said one physics PhD student speaker.

The University of California released a statement saying it is still negotiating and doing anything possible to prevent the strike from impacting student learning.

The UC system said it believes its offers have been generous and include pay increases, expanded paid leave and more family support and child care benefits.

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