The United Auto Workers is asking UC academic student employees to go on strike, charging UC with unfair labor practices stemming from a “refusal to negotiate.” UC vigorously disagrees. Since July 2013, UC has worked hard to negotiate a fair contract for academic student employees. We have proposed fair contract terms, and have been responsive on issues the union has raised, including new issues that were not part of previous bargaining.

United Auto Workers Proposals UC Response
Class sizes

Smaller class sizes

Form committees in every department to study class sizes

UC and the union already reached tentative agreement on workload provisions in October. However, UC remains open to discussing the union’s concerns and shares the desire to maintain academic quality at UC.
Wages Competitive pay 3% increase in pay rates a year for 3 years
Undocumented graduate students Give undocumented students paid teaching positions UC has made clear that any agreement must follow federal law and cannot jeopardize federal
funding UC receives for research and education. UC is open to continuing to discuss mutually
agreeable solutions with the union.
Support for families UC should cover all childcare costs, a benefit that no other UC employee receives.

Increase childcare subsidies by 50%

Provide convenient lactation rooms where ASEs work

Increased leave provisions

Gender-neutral bathrooms Provide gender-neutral restrooms within a reasonable distance of where employees work UC has proposed working with the United Auto Workers on this issue in collaboration with the UC Task Force on LGBT Climate and Inclusion which is developing strategies to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, faculty and staff.

A strike will unfairly hurt other students and their ability to achieve their academic goals, even as UC and the United Auto Workers continue to meet and negotiate over key issues. UC is committed to bargaining in good faith until a contract is reached. 

Next bargaining session: April 15-16