UC academic workers won big contract gains. Here’s their plan for an even stronger union
Academic workers at the University of California voted to unite their two branches of the United Auto Workers into one local, consolidating to increase their negotiating power, according to a news release they issued Saturday.
UAW Local 5810 has represented 6,000 postdoctoral scholars and 5,000 academic researchers across all UC campuses, while UAW Local 2865 has negotiated on behalf of 19,000 graduate workers and 17,000 student workers.
Last year, though, both locals decided to launch a joint strike that crippled the UC system for six weeks and ended with a historic labor agreement securing among the highest-ever pay raises in US academia.
“In last year’s strike, we won many shared demands, including childcare subsidies, universal public transit, and the right to a respectful work environment,” said Neal Sweeney, president of UAW Local 5810. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t stand shoulder to shoulder every time we go to the bargaining table.”
The vote to amalgamate passed with 10,574 members in favor and 810 opposed, union leaders said. Asked why only 25% of members voted, union officials said that this referendum actually got significantly better turnout than the UAW runoff for international president in which Shawn Fain unseated incumbent Ray Curry.
Before the union can officially get off the ground, said Rafael Jaime, president of UAW Local 2865, the UAW’s international executive board must approve the referendum. Then, he said, the new local can establish bylaws and start operating.
The next round of contract negotiations begin in 2025, Sweeney said.
“Amalgamating will help us to win even stronger contracts, provide better member support, and allow us to speak in one strong voice on the issues we care about,” Jaime said. “We are hopeful that they (the executive board) will respect the will of our members.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2023 at 10:46 AM.
