The Union of academic workers at the University of California system has authorized a strike over concerns about free speech on campus. The Union represents about 48,000 graduate students and other academic workers at 10 University of California system campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The vote for the strike authorization passed with 79% support following a lack of police intervention during an attack on a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles. The Union argues that the University of California system unlawfully changed policies regarding free speech, discriminated against pro-Palestinian speech and allowed attacks on protesters to occur, creating an unsafe work environment. The strike does not guarantee a strike will occur but gives the executive board of the local union the ability to call a strike at any time.
The University of California president’s office has stated that a strike would introduce non-labor issues into labor agreements and set a dangerous precedent. Despite this, the Union argues that their right to free speech and peaceful protest is at the core of their demands. There are still several active encampments at various University of California campuses, including U.C. Merced, U.C. Santa Cruz, and U.C. Davis. The protesters have been working with university officials to address their concerns, including discussions around divestment and securing a cease-fire in their protests. However, the chancellor of U.C. Berkeley has stated that divestment from companies that do business with or in Israel is not within her authority.
The strike authorization vote enables the Union to call for a “stand-up” strike, a tactic that focuses strikes on certain campuses or groups of workers to gain leverage. The Union’s executive board may announce specific strikes later in the week. The decision to strike for free speech is considered unusual but not unheard-of, as younger members of the Union are more receptive to organized labor and making demands on their unions. This shift in generational attitudes towards unions may impact future labor negotiations and actions. The Union plans to use strikes strategically to reward campuses that make progress in addressing their concerns and create chaos for the employer.
The unrest among academic workers in the University of California system highlights a growing demand for free speech and the right to protest in a workplace setting. The push for greater protection of these rights goes beyond traditional labor issues of pay and workplace conditions. The Union’s vote to authorize a strike reflects a broader societal shift towards valuing free speech and the ability to voice opinions without fear of retaliation. As the Union moves forward with potential strike actions, it remains to be seen how the University of California system will respond to these demands and how it may impact future labor relations within the academic community.
