UC Academic Workers Strike and Related Issue Information (Spring 2024)
In May 2024, the UCSC campus, the entire University of California system and Universities across the country are experiencing a level of student activism that hasn’t been seen in decades. Throughout history and continuing through today, student protest has been an important and valuable catalyst for social progress across the country and throughout the world.
Below we provide a few links to both primary resources and scholarly insights that can help our community learn more about the current labor strike and broader issues at stake.
Primary Resources
UAW 4811 demands “UC to divest from companies and industries currently profiting off of the suffering in Gaza” and they seek amnesty from Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs)
UC statement on UAW vote to conduct unlawful strike (May 16, 2024)
University of California UAW News & Updates
Carol T. Christ, UC Berkeley’s Chancellor’s letter to Free Palestine Encampment (May 14, 2024)
Scholarly Insights
To place this strike in historical context read: Dana Frank, UCSC History Research Professor and Professor Emerita’s UC Graduate Workers and the History of Political Strikes (May 30, 2024)
For insights into Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) in the public sector read: Noah D. Katz, UCLA Law and Labor Studies professor’s Op-ed: UC offers deceptive claims about illegality of strike in letter to union members (May 16, 2024)
For comprehensive context for general rebuttal to UC’s statement read: Yale Law Journal, “There Is No Such Thing as an Illegal Strike”: Reconceptualizing the Strike in Law and Political Economy (January 6, 2021)
For a relevant example of how an issue’s relevance and related demands should be sufficiently related to their work read: The National Law Review, Political Strike Guidance for Employers: Preparing for ‘Strike for Black Lives’ (July 17, 2020)
Recent News
Up-to-date overview of the strike: Cal Matters, UC student workers expand strike to two more campuses as they demand amnesty for protestors (May 28, 2024)
National coverage of the local strike in the national context: NPR, UC Santa Cruz workers strike in solidarity with pro-Palestinian protesters (May 22, 2024)
Local coverage of the encampment and strike’s overlap and distinctions: Santa Cruz Sentinel, UC Santa Cruz academic workers stage strike over UC protest response (May 20, 2024)
Background on the impetus and demands of the strike: Guardian, Graduate workers in California to strike over treatment of Gaza protesters (May 17, 2024)
Non-labor demands will be growing due to growing youth membership: New York Times, University of California Workers Authorize Union to Call for Strike Over Protest Crackdowns (May 15, 2024)
Current funds target by student protests and historic divestments at UC: Associated Press, University of California official says system has $32 billion in holdings targeted by protesters (May 15, 2024)
Structure of investment across the UC system: NPR affiliate KCRW, Individual UC campuses hold little power over divestment, despite agreements (May 15, 2024)
