UC graduate workers, staff union authorize strike, citing unfair labor practices
Source: Lookout
by Hillary Ojeda 5 hours ago
The union representing more than 40,000 University of California graduate student workers and some staff voted Friday to authorize a strike and accused the university system of committing unfair labor practices.
Units within the United Auto Workers (UAW) union representing professional advisors and student services staff as well as graduate student workers say the university committed eight unfair labor practices at multiple UC campuses.
Rebecca Gross, UAW unit chair at UC Santa Cruz, said the union has been negotiating with the university for a new contract for seven months and accuses the university of bargaining in bad faith. Gross is the chair of the graduate student worker unit of UAW.
“It seems to us that there’s deliberate, slow-walking at the table,” she said. “They’re dragging out this process and leaving us in a position without being able to to get a fair, better contract.” The current contract expires Feb. 28.
A UAW picket line at the main entrance to UC Santa Cruz in May 2024. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Read more: https://lookout.co/uc-graduate-workers-staff-union-authorize-strike-citing-unfair-labor-practices/story