UAW Calls for Politically Motivated Strikes Across UC System, Creating Division and Unrest
A wave of unrest has hit the University of California (UC) system as academic workers represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811 initiate a series of rolling strikes, beginning at UC Santa Cruz. The union’s actions have ignited a heated debate over their legality and the validity of the demands, raising questions about the future of labor relations within the university system.
The UC administration has taken a firm stance against the strike, deeming it illegal. Melissa Matella, the associate vice-president of systemwide labor relations, emphasized that the union’s demands fall outside the boundaries of their collective bargaining agreement. “This strike is illegal,” Matella stated. “UAW’s decision to strike over non-labor issues violates the no-strike clause of their contracts with UC and sets a dangerous and far-reaching precedent that social, political, and cultural issues – no matter how valid – that are not labor-related can support a labor strike.”
Union’s Broader Political Agenda
The union has not limited its demands to typical labor issues, such as wages and benefits. Instead, it has expanded its agenda to include broader political and social issues, sparking controversy within the university and beyond. The university has characterized these as “political demands that are outside the terms of the collective bargaining agreement,” suggesting that the union’s goals reach beyond the workplace and delve into broader societal debates.
Despite these criticisms, UAW is pushing forward with its strategy. A group of UAW 4811 members, Rank and File for a Democratic Union at UCLA, has urged the union leadership to be “serious about causing ‘maximum disruption and chaos’” by calling for a strike at UCLA, the campus with the largest student population in the UC system. This call for aggressive action reflects a more confrontational stance within the union, though questions remain about the broader support for the strike.
Divided Support Within the Union
While 79% of voting members supported authorizing the strike, the turnout was notably low, with only about 19,780 of UAW 4811’s roughly 48,000 members casting ballots. This is a sharp decline from the more than 36,000 academic workers who participated in the union’s 2022 strike authorization vote during its collective bargaining process. The reduced participation suggests that there may be divisions within the union over the current strike’s scope and objectives.
Meanwhile, university officials argue that the strike’s ultimate goal is to pressure the university into conceding to a list of politically motivated demands linked to protests occurring across California and the nation. This assertion was bolstered by the union’s active participation in pro-Palestinian protests and other political activities. The UC administration has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the labor board, alleging that the union’s decision to walk out violates the no-strike provision in its collective bargaining agreements.
Impact and Response Across Campuses
The strike, which began at UC Santa Cruz, is already causing disruptions. Picketers have blocked entrances to parking structures and confronted motorists attempting to enter the campus, urging them to respect the picket line. At UCLA, students preparing for finals have expressed frustration over the disruptions, with university officials underscoring their commitment to minimizing the impact on education. “Students want to hear their professors teach, not the piercing sounds of trumpets, drums, and slogans being shouted right outside their classroom windows,” said Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor of strategic communications.
However, union leaders are resolute in their stance. Anny Viloria Winnett, academic student employee unit chair of UAW 4811 at UCLA, called for more than minor disruptions during a recent rally, declaring, “We need amnesty for our colleagues. If your boss is mad at you, good!”
Know Your Rights
For faculty and staff, it’s important to know that participation in strike activities is a personal choice. No one can be legally compelled to join a strike or face retaliation for not participating. Similarly, students should be aware of their rights regarding continued access to education and campus resources, even amidst disruptions caused by strikes. The university is obligated to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of ongoing labor disputes.
For more information on your rights as an employee regarding unions, visit Know Your Rights.
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