Bargaining Update #14: Real Progress on Workload, UC Management Still Breaking the Law
In just one week, thousands of UAW members at every UC campus will begin voting to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike to demand that management resolve its outstanding unlawful actions and bargain in good faith to reach a fair contract. Throughout bargaining, UC management has claimed our proposals are too costly, while also refusing to provide the Bargaining Committee with information to back up its claims. At the same time, management has unilaterally reduced appointment percentages in several departments, cutting workers’ pay in half. These actions by UC management are unlawful and getting in the way of finalizing a full and fair contract that we all deserve. This is why thousands of members are committing to vote YES on the ULP Strike Authorization Vote starting February 5.
Bargaining Update: Progress on Workload & Class Sizes
Yesterday, the ASE Bargaining Committee wrapped up three days of bargaining with UC management. As tens of thousands of Academic Student Employees prepare to hold a ULP strike authorization vote, UC management made some important progress in bargaining on workload protections for TAs, but is still failing to remedy its unlawful behavior.
For the past six months, UC management has taken an aggressive stance to weaken workload protections for Teaching Assistants. They have repeatedly made proposals at the bargaining table that would make it harder for TAs to enforce their protections against overwork, and away from the bargaining table, they have unilaterally increased class sizes and cut appointment percentages, resulting in increased workload and pay cuts for hundreds of TAs. ASEs have pushed back by proposing strong protections against increased workloads, and transparency over increases to class size. Yesterday, union members secured the first half of that by defeating management’s takeaways and tentatively agreeing to contract language that ensures TAs are able to grieve overwork. Bargaining Team members will go back to the bargaining table in the coming weeks to continue pushing for greater transparency around class sizes policies and guaranteed 50% TA appointments.
Members of the ASE Bargaining Team also presented a group of proposals to reiterate other key demands, including:
Raises that keep up with the rising cost of living
A pathway to a unified payscale for GSRs and ASEs
Expanding the size and scope of the legal fund for international workers
Broader eligibility and duration for leaves
Finally, both sides also agreed to extend the contracts to February 28, with future bargaining sessions being scheduled for February. Join the Special Statewide Membership Meeting on Tuesday, February 2nd to hear more about progress at the bargaining table. RSVP here.
A successful ULP strike authorization vote is key to pushing management to back off of their illegal tactics and get to work bargaining over the issues remaining on the table. Commit to vote YES today!