Gender inequity – the fact that women academics, and especially those with children, are paid less, have less job security, face sexual harassment at a dramatically higher rate, and ultimately decide to leave the academy with much greater frequency than their male counterparts, is an issue of the gravest importance at UC and throughout academia. From taking a lead role in calling out the university’s failure to address the sexual harassment crisis at UC, to aggressively pursuing workplace gender discrimination grievances, to winning increased paid leave, UC Postdocs and Academic Researchers have made gender equity a core mission of our union’s efforts.

Recent Actions

• Non-Discrimination Protections and Paid Parental Leave for all Postdocs:
  With our new contract, Postdocs have increased mechanisms in place to prevent sexual harassment, strong protections for survivors, and we are now the only public university in the country with paid parental leave for all Postdocs.
• UAW 5810 Week of Action Against Sexual Harassment at UC:
  In the spring of 2016, UAW 5810 hosted a week of teach-ins, lectures, and direct actions against Sexual Harassment at UC

Statements

• International Union UAW’s Public Comments, on behalf of UAW Higher Ed Unions, in opposition the Betsy Devos’s proposed changes to Title IX
• UAW 5810 Comment on Draft Changes to the UC Presidential Policy on Sexual Harassment and
  Sexual Violence
• UAW 5810 Public Comment on NSF’s Proposed Changes to Sexual Harassment Policy
• UAW 5810 Comments on UC Sexual Harassment and Violence Policy
• UAW 5810 Letter to Janet Napolitano
• UAW Comments on UC Joint Committee Report

Media

• Editorial: She Wanted to Do Her Research. He Wanted to Talk ‘Feelings.’ by A. Hope Jahren (NY Times)
• The Baby Penalty by Mary Ann Mason (Chronicle of Higher Education)
• Short-Term Appointments Make UC Postdocs Vulnerable to Sexual Harassment by 5810 President Anke Schennink (Medium)
• Guest Post: UC Postdocs Demand Paid Parental Leave by 5810 Trustee Lydia Majure (Tenure She Wrote)
• UC Must Prioritize Prevention and Protection in its Sexual Harassment Policy by 5810 Trustee Carlena Ebben Eaton (Huffington Post)
• UC Must Make Good on Commitment to Fix Gender Equity Policies by 5810 Vice President Neal Sweeney (Huffington Post)
• UC’s Opportunity to Shape the Future of Scientific Research by 5810 President Anke Schennink (Medium)
• On Sexual Harassment, NIH Needs Tools To Make Things Better, Not More Compliance Regulations by Janet D. Stemwedel (Forbes)
• Postdoctoral Union Hosts Teach-ins on Sexual Harassment by Adam Iscoe (The Daily Cal)
• UC Must Have Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment by 5810 President Anke Schennink (Sacramento Bee)
• A push for stronger sexual harassment policies at the University of California by Beryl Lieff Benderly (Science )
• UCLA Community Protests Professor’s Punishment for Sex Harassment by Teresa Watanabe (LA Times)
• Sexual Harassment Cases Tarnish Berkeley’s Image as a Center of Social Activism by Thomas Fuller (NY Times)
• California Legislature Women’s Caucus Letter to Janet Napolitano (3/4/2016)

Gender Equity Updates