Topline:
Academic workers at three more University of California campuses are set to go on strike. The expanded labor action comes in response to administration crackdowns on protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
What schools are next? The union representing 48,000 UC workers said Friday that members will walk off the job on Monday at UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego. Another strike at UC Irvine will follow on Wednesday, the union said.
The backstory: Similar strikes have already taken place at three other campuses, including UCLA. The union has said these actions are necessary responses to what they see as unfair labor practices related to recent campus protests, including arrests, curtailed free speech and wrongful employee suspensions.
What’s next: UC officials have said the strike illegally violates the union’s contract and will disrupt grading, instruction and research. The move comes with final exams just a couple weeks away.