The lecturers’ union (UC-AFT) and UCOP have been bargaining over a new contract for more than two years, with little to show for it. Despite the legal obligation to bargain in good faith, the UCOP negotiators have refused to bargain on basic issues, while regularly demonstrating their disrespect for their UC-AFT interlocutors. Senate faculty who have observed the negotiations have been taken aback to see the UCOP negotiators’ repeated late appearances, sudden walkouts, and ongoing refusal to respond to basic questions – all in our name. The lecturers’ rage and frustration are mounting. Hundreds have signed a pledge of strike readiness.
The UC-AFT has made three demands, all fundamental to maintaining the quality of education at UC:
- Job stability—rehiring preferences based on fair evaluations, multi-year appointments for pre-six lecturers, and accessible promotions to Senior Lecturer for continuing lecturers.
- Fair compensation—eliminating unpaid work, compensating service and professional development activities.
- Wage increase—livable wages that reflect lecturers’ academic and professional qualifications and keep pace with the rising cost of living in California.
None of these demands exceeds the industry standard at every CA community college and Cal State University. However, when UCOP finally responded to the UC-AFT’s proposal on April 16th and 22nd after two years of tactical delays, the lecturers were offered a pay raise of 7.5% over 5 years—without even mentioning the key issues of job stability and fair compensation. In place of job stability, the UCOP invoked the exploitative mantra of flexibility. But without job stability, the raise means little: at least half of the current lecturers will never see the raise because they would be unemployed after the first year.
The UC-AFT has been organizing strike-readiness conversations since mid-April. Hundreds of members have signed the strike readiness pledge. It is a critical moment for Senate faculty to show solidarity with our colleagues. Please consider supporting the UC-AFT in the following ways:
- Check out and share the UC-AFT new contract campaign website: WeTeachUC.org.
- Attend bargaining on April 28th from 3 to 5 PM. Our presence tells both our non-Senate colleagues and the UCOP negotiators that we think a fair resolution matters. Once you register at the link above, you will get instructions about how to attend and support.
- Attend one of the strike readiness conversations to show your support.
You-tien Hsing and Leslie Salzinger, for the Board of the Berkeley Faculty Association.