Bargaining Update #3: UC Admin proposes rollback on discrimination/abuse protections

Yesterday in Berkeley, UAW 4811 Academic Student Employees (ASEs) met with UC admin for the third session of contract negotiations. At this session, UC management made proposals that would erase decades of gains that academic workers have made to combat workplace abuse and discrimination. In contrast, ASEs proposed contract language that would expand the transitional funding program established earlier this year and protect our rights at work. Continue reading below for the update and visit the ASE Bargaining Center for more details, including everything that has been shared at the bargaining table so far. 

Protections Against Workplace Abuse & Harassment

Specifically, management proposed:

• Unilaterally placing our Respectful Work Environment, sexual harassment, and non-discrimination grievances into “abeyance” indefinitely during the Title 9 process, meaning that they would be able to stop the grievance process from moving forward and being heard by a neutral third party arbitrator. This would result in months, if not years, of delays.

• Eliminating definitions of “Abuse” from our Respectful Work Environment article and replacing our hard-fought contract language with the unilateral right of management to decide what constitutes “abuse.” 

As the Trump administration tries to dismantle workplace protections like Title IX and force universities to eliminate anti-discrimination and diversity measures, UC admin is attempting to give themselves the right to define, adjudicate, and ultimately ignore abuse at work. Needless to say, these proposed changes are unacceptable. It’s up to ASEs to organize on every campus and to fight for a university free from harassment, discrimination, and abuse.

UAW 4811 members gather outside before bargaining.

Transitional Funding

Last year, ASEs ratified a contract extension side letter that established a Transitional Position Pilot Program meant to support ASEs seeking to leave abusive or incompatible labs. Yesterday, ASEs proposed making that program permanent and expanding it so a greater number of ASEs can get the support we need when looking for a better lab. In a positive sign, ASEs also reached a tentative agreement (TA) with UC management on the Workspace and Instructional Support article, protecting our right to receive the equipment, materials, and instructional support necessary to do our jobs. UC’s initial proposal on this article would have deprived ASEs of those rights, and this strong TA is proof that workers can move management towards our position.

Management’s priorities are clear: they want to take away ASEs’ rights and make it impossible to enforce the rights that we already have. In order to ensure that our priorities win out, all ASEs need to join the fight and maximize pressure on the UC administration. Click the link below to join the Contract Action Team (CAT) and build the power necessary to win a fair contract.