The University of California is disappointed by the UAW strike authorization vote. Since July, UC has met consistently with UAW, exchanged proposals, and reached nearly two dozen tentative agreements for academic student employees and 20 tentative agreements for the student services and research professionals unit. That progress reflects serious work at the table, thoughtful proposals designed to address employees’ specific needs, and a demonstrated ability to find common ground. We will enter mediation next week to build on the progress we have already made at the table.

The University of California today presented the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) with a comprehensive contract supposal designed to bring negotiations to a close and provide long-needed certainty, stability, and relief for UC’s lowest-paid employees. 

After more than two years of discussions, UC’s supposal is intended to resolve outstanding issues and allow employees to focus on their work and their lives with confidence in their pay, benefits, and future.

The University of California presented a comprehensive economic package for academic graduate student employees as part of ongoing negotiations with United Auto Workers Local 4811. The proposal reflects UC’s commitment to meaningful total compensation while sustaining its teaching, research and student support mission in a challenging funding environment.

UAW represents approximately 33,000 graduate student employees systemwide who serve as Teaching Assistants, Associate Instructors, Readers, Tutors or Graduate Student Researchers across the UC system.

We are disappointed by the news that UAW will be holding a strike authorization vote. We are currently engaged in sustained and forward-looking negotiations for a successor contract for the academic graduate student employees bargaining unit (Graduate Student Instructors, Readers, Tutors, and Graduate Student Researchers), as well as an initial contract for the new student services and research professionals bargaining unit. Through both negotiations, we have worked collaboratively with the UAW, reaching dozens of tentative agreements across the two contracts.  

The University of California has proposed increased wages for more than 20,000 UC employees represented by Teamsters Local 2010.