UC is at it again. We met with the University on August 26th to continue negotiations for a new and improved AR contract covering Project Scientists, Specialists, Professional Researchers and CPPs, but they had other ideas in mind. We passed the UC several articles aimed at creating a more equitable workplace, but unfortunately, the UC’s response fell extremely short of our demands and was at times outright offensive.
- UC goes back to union busting! In exchange for more seamless membership election forms that would strengthen our union, UC proposed that we roll over and accept unhelpful—and in some cases hurtful policies–on several key articles such as: increased parking fees as their solution to carbon emission reduction, job security, fewer rights and mechanisms for ARs to enforce our contract, and more.
- UC made it clear in their Leaves proposal that they prefer to stick with the status quo. While their most recent proposal did include an increase to our bereavement leave, they continue to reject our proposal for expanded family and parental leave–enforcing the expectation that UC only values its Academic Researchers when they clock in.
- UC’s passed us their proposal on Management and Academic rights. They want to codify their xenophobic policies in our contract – even going as far to say their “language really takes out the foreign aspect of it.” Sorry, UC just because your language doesn’t sound discriminatory – that doesn’t mean it isn’t meant to be discriminatory. We will not allow the University to treat our colleagues from certain countries differently. Discrimination has no place in research.
- On disability access rights, we proposed language to ensure that an AR, or their lab, will not face a financial burden when making the workplace more accessible to ARs with disabilities. We also proposed interim solutions for ARs who go through the process to get an accommodation. Additionally, we continued the conversation on the need for UC to increase digital accessibility measures which have been proven to be useful for many academic workers. The burden of making our workplaces more accessible should not fall on ARs!
- Yesterday, the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) cited the University for committing an unfair labor practice with regard to our anti-bullying proposal. This makes official what has been evident for months: that in UC‘s insistence that any anti-bullying provisions be contingent on the University’s own still unpublished policy, UC is breaking the law by engaging in bad faith bargaining.
Mass AR involvement is the key to winning a fair contract
It is clear from last week’s bargaining session that the University does not (yet) feel the pressure necessary to agree to a contract that reflects the value of Academic Researcher labor. The good news is that with all 48,000+ UC academic workers who are represented by UAW all negotiating new contracts, we unquestionably have the power to win the type of contract we deserve.
But that power is dependent on all ARs getting involved in the bargaining process. High union membership is absolutely critical to our leverage at the bargaining table. If you are not currently a dues-paying member of our Union, please click here to sign up today! And if you are already a member, but have not yet gotten involved in the bargaining process, please click here to join the effort!
This tracker shows all the proposals that have been exchanged so far, and has links to every document if you would like to have a closer read. Our next bargaining will take place on September 9th. Please fill out this RSVP form if you’d like to attend and listen in!
Last Friday, Academic Researchers, Postdocs, and Graduate Student Workers joined thousands of fellow union members and social justice activists at the end of UFW’s historic 335 mile and 24 day march to capitol city, Sacramento. Marchers joined in solidarity with UFW in their campaign to pressure Governor Newsom to sign AB-2183, a bill that would make farmworker union elections more fair. ¡Sí Se Puede!
In solidarity,
Bargaining Team members and alternates:
Howard Isaacson, UC Berkeley
Stacey S. Frederick, UC Berkeley
Paul Lott, UC Davis
Conor White, UC Davis
Mia Villegas, UC Irvine
Gabriel Edwards, UCLA
Tony Shahin, UC Merced
Sonia Podvin, UC San Diego
Chunnan Hsu, UC San Diego
Luke Russell Bonser, UCSF
Vitor Hugo Serrão, UC Santa Cruz
Margherita Zavatta, UC Santa Cruz
Follow your union on Twitter @UAW5810!