United Auto Workers Local 4811 announced Monday a vote for May 13-15 to authorize a strike, after the union alleged unfair labor practices related to last week’s dismantling of the Palestine solidarity encampment.þþUAW Local 4811 – formerly known as the two unions UAW Local 2865 and UAW Local 5810, which represents University of California academic student employees and graduate students, academic and postdoctoral researchers – said in a press release Wednesday that the union would announce a vote to authorize a strike as soon as the week of May 6.þþThe announcement comes after the union filed unfair labor practice violations against the UC on Friday for the university and law enforcement’s use of force against UAW 4811 members, undergraduate students and faculty.þþIn a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, UAW 4811 urged its members to vote yes on the authorization next week.þþ“It is important for Academic Employees to vote YES in the strike authorization vote to show UC Administration that this unprecedented crackdown on free speech on University campuses is unacceptable,” the union said in its post. “Our members have been beaten, concussed, pepper sprayed, both by counter-protestors and by police forces. As a union, it is our responsibility to stand beside them and demand that UC stop committing these gross Unfair Labor Practices.”þþUAW 4811 also laid out five central demands for the UC to begin potential “peaceful negotiations” with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Demands included amnesty for protesters arrested in demonstrations, securing free speech on campus, divestment from the industrial military complex and companies profiting off of the war in Gaza, full disclosure of all of the UC’s investments, and to work to transition out of research funding related to “Palestinian oppression.”þþA spokesperson for the UC Office of the President said they are working on a statement.þþHeather Hansen, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President, said in an emailed statement that UCOP believes there is no legal basis for UAW 4811 to strike under its current contract, if it were to authorize one.þþ“The University is concerned that a potential strike by UAW-represented academic employees could create significant disruptions at a time when stability and support are crucial for our community,” Hansen said in the statement. “A strike during this already vulnerable time will maximize disruption, interfere with end-of-year activities and create more uncertainty for our students and communities.”
Source: dailybruin.com
