Thousands of researchers and student employees went on strike across the 10 University of California (UC) campuses on Nov. 14 citing unfair working conditions and pay.
“After months at the bargaining table and 26 unfair labor practices filed, we have no choice but to move towards a strike,” Jade Moore, a bargaining team member, said in a statement.
“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 said.
He also said that the university has reached agreements with the union regarding key issues like a respectful work environment and health and safety matters.
The negotiation affects about 48,000 workers, including 17,000 student researchers.
Workers joined picket lines at 8 a.m., demonstrating with signs, T-shirts, and chants calling for significant pay raise to afford living in high-cost cities, like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Besides higher salaries and greater annual raises, the workers are demanding free public transit passes, improved childcare benefits, and greater job security.
Union leaders said that it is the largest academic worker strike in U.S. history. It was approved by over 75 percent of union members on Nov. 2.
The work stoppage could potentially leave classes without instructors and professors without workers to grade assignments. It could also halt a significant portion of the research that occurs at UC campuses.
