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UC academic worker strike officially ends, but each side will keep pressing its claim
Members of UAW 4811 went on strike in May 2-24, although a judge had paused the strike in June.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Topline:
Earlier this month, an Orange County judge paused a strike by the University of California's academic workers. On Thursday, the union agreed to halt the strike altogether, but both sides of the conflict plan to keep pressing their arguments to the state government.
What's the background? UC workers launched a series of "stand-up strikes" beginning in late May at UC Santa Cruz in response to crackdowns on faculty and students who were protesting Israel's war effort in Gaza. The strike gradually grew to include six campuses, and workers at other schools said they were ready to join in.
Why it matters: The union’s demands included amnesty for students and faculty who were arrested when encampments were dismantled, as well as divestment from companies that are profiting from the war in Gaza. The union asserted those issues were tied to labor practices and so had the right to strike, while the university system argued the strike was a breach of contract.
What's next? Neither the court nor the state's Public Employment Relations Board have made a decision about who's right.
“While we are relieved this strike is over, we continue to seek clarity that our no-strike clauses are enforceable,” said Missy Matella, associate vice president of Systemwide Employee and Labor Relations.
A representative for the union has not responded to LAist's request for comment.
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