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UC Workers Plan To Strike At UCLA, UC Davis Next Week After State Denies Injunction
UC Santa Cruz academic workers, who are members of UAW 4811, carry signs as they picket in front of campus on May 20, 2024.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Topline:
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.
Why 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.
The 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.
Strikes 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.
What's next: PERB declined to pursue the injunction to stop the strikes on Thursday, saying UC "has not established that injunctive relief is 'just and proper.'" However, the agency said it will leave UC's request open, "in the event it learns of evidence or facts" that support the system's request.
Go deeper: Medics At UCLA Protest Say Police Weapons Drew Blood, Cracked Bones
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