Union Urges Vote in Favor of Strike Authorization After Student and Worker Injuries
The UAW Local 4811 has authorized a strike vote between May 13 and May 15 in response to the actions of the UCLA and UCSD Administrations during the recent protests at both schools. The union also objects to the violence of vigilantes who attacked the student encampment at UCLA and the actions of the police who dispersed the camps. The union has urged its members to vote yes to a strike. A strike would include academic student employees and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.
The union called for amnesty for all academic employees, students, student groups, faculty, and staff who face disciplinary actions, divestment, and disclosure of funding, and to allow researchers to opt out of funding tied to the war in Palestine and offer them alternatives so they can continue their work.
In a post on Twitter, the union said, “On Friday, May 3rd, 2024, our union filed Unfair Labor Practice charges in response to UC’s actions against peaceful protesters – including UAW 4811 members – over the past week. It is important for Academic Employees to vote YES in the strike authorization vote to show the UC Administration that this unprecedented crackdown on free speech on University campuses is unacceptable.
“Our members have been beaten, concussed, and 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 and unfair labor practices.”
“In order to de-escalate the situation, UC must substantively engage with the concerns raised by the protesters — which focus on UC’s investments in companies and industries profiting off of the suffering in Gaza. This de-escalation is possible: Brown, Northwestern, Evergreen State, Rutgers, University of Minnesota, and UC Riverside were able to reach agreements with student protesters.”
UAW 4811 also alleged that the UC administrators “made unilateral changes to working conditions that have impacted our teaching, our work obligations, our safety, and our academic freedom.
Finally, the union accused the universities of “Disciplining employees for engaging in peaceful protest activity demanding workplace-related changes.” and that the administrations “summoned the police to forcibly eject and arrest UAW Local 4811 members in retaliation for those employees engaging in peaceful protest activity demanding workplace-related changes.”
