48,000 unionized University of California academic workers launch ‘historic’ strike

Around 48,000 unionized academic workers at every University of California campus on Monday began what they call “the largest higher education strike in U.S. history” as they demand a living wage and better benefits and working conditions.

Striking workers include teaching assistants, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, tutors, and fellows across U.C.’s 10 campuses, as well as staff at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The strikers—who are members of United Auto Workers (UAW) 2865, UAW 5810, and Student Researchers United-UAW—are seeking higher pay, childcare reimbursements, job security protections, sustainable transit incentives, elimination of fees for international student researchers, and improved disability access.

According to the Times:

U.C. Irvine strikers began demonstrating on campus at 8:30 am, while walkouts at some other campuses were set for 9 am, including U.C. Davis and U.C. San Francisco. The 48,000 workers, represented by four UAW bargaining units, have demanded base salaries of $54,000, a wage increase that would more than double their average current pay of about $24,000 annually. U.C. has offered a salary scale increase of 7% in the first year and 3% in each subsequent year, but workers have said that’s not sufficient.

UAW 2865 president and UCLA graduate worker Rafael Jaime told the Guardian that “we’re fighting so those of us who do the majority of teaching and research do not have to live with severe rent burdens and debt, while highly paid administrators live in publicly funded mansions.”

Jacob Kemner, a doctorate student in environmental studies at U.C. Riverside who earns about $28,000 annually, said he donates blood plasma twice a week for around $200 in supplemental income.

Originally published at Commondreams.org.