Thousands of academic workers throughout the University of California System enter their second day striking over the university system’s bargaining practices with their union, which is pushing for better compensation.
This historic strike includes about 48,000 workers, including 17,000 student researchers, at UC San Diego, the nine other University of California campuses, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Monday marked the first day of the strike, and it remains unclear when the strike will end. Three tentative agreements were reached Monday, according to Rafael Jaime, president of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2865, which represents the striking tutors, readers, graduate student instructors, and teaching assistants.
“At this point, the priority should be round-the-clock bargaining in good faith as opposed to switching to a mediation process, Jaime said. “We remain willing and able to meet with the university on an ongoing basis to reach a resolution.''
The union wants to see graduate student workers earn a base salary of $54,000, which amounts to an increase of more than double these workers’ average current pay of about $24,000, according to the union. The Union also calls for a postdoctoral employee’s minimum salary of $70,000, which would be a $10,000 increase.
A salary scale increase of 5% in the first year and 3% afterward was offered by UC, but workers say that is not adequate, Associated Press reported.
“The university's proposals do not adequately address the affordable housing crisis confronting our members,'' Jaime said Monday.
Union officials say some of the employees make as little as $24,000 per year. Additionally, they seek higher salaries, greater annual raises, free public transit passes, improved childcare benefits, and greater job security.
In a statement on Monday, University of California Office of the President spokesperson Ryan King said “at this time, we believe that the best path to an agreement is with the aid of a third-party mediator. We continue to encourage the union's partnership in pursuing mediation.''
“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 in a statement.
In a press release, UC administrators say “providing fair and competitive pay to all employees is a UC priority and essential to ensuring the excellence of our workforce and the quality of our service to students and the public."
