UAW 4811, the union that represents academic workers across the University of California system, has called on members at UCLA and UC Davis to join its strike on Tuesday, May 28.þWhy it matters: UAW 4811 represents 48,000 employees that include students and postdocs. They conduct research, teach, and grade student work. UCLA has one of the largest student populations. A work stoppage there could deal a serious blow to its operations, particularly because finals will be just two weeks away.þþThe backstory: The union has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against UC, arguing that the system violated workers’ right to protest when deploying police to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampments — particularly at UCLA, where the encampment was attacked by counterprotesters. The union also takes issue with the arrest and suspension of its members.þþStrikes so far: On Monday, workers at UC Santa Cruz staged the first “stand up” strike, a strategy that involves rotating campuses. Meanwhile, UC officials have asked the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to put an end to the interruptions.þþWhat's next: PERB is reviewing the union and UC’s filings and “deliberating on a decision,” according to J. Felix De La Torre, the agency’s general counsel. “I anticipate the Board will issue its decision today or tomorrow at the latest,” he said.
Source: laist.com
