The University of California system’s academic workers’ union, U.A.W. 4811, authorized a strike vote over concerns regarding free speech, rather than the typical collective bargaining issues. The vote passed with 79 percent support, following an incident where pro-Palestinian protesters were attacked by counterprotesters at the University of California, Los Angeles without police intervention. The union accuses the university of changing free speech policies, discriminating against pro-Palestinian speech, and allowing attacks on protesters. While the vote does not guarantee a strike, it gives the executive board of the union the ability to call for one at any time.
A spokeswoman for the University of California president’s office expressed concern that a strike would introduce non-labor issues into labor agreements and affect the academic mission of the institution. Despite this, several University of California campuses still have active encampments, with protesters calling for divestment from certain companies and support for a cease-fire. The stand-up strike tactic, which allows the union to focus strikes on specific campuses or groups of workers, could be used by the executive board of the local union to gain leverage in negotiations.
The strike authorization vote by the academic workers’ union is unique in its focus on free speech issues but aligns with a growing trend of young members being more receptive to organized labor. Professor Tobias Higbie of U.C.L.A. noted that generational change is impacting workplaces and unions, with younger members making more demands on unions. This vote may serve as a harbinger of future demands from young workers in labor movements.
The protesters at U.C. Berkeley dismantled their encampment after reaching an agreement with university officials, but critics still voiced concerns about the handling of the protests by university administrations. The union’s executive board will announce later if strikes will be called at certain campuses or groups of workers to pressure the university to address their grievances. The union aims to create chaos and confusion for the employer by announcing strikes at the last minute.
The strike authorization vote reflects the academic workers’ concerns over the university system’s handling of campus protests and their right to free speech and peaceful protest. The union plans to use the stand-up strike tactic to reward campuses making progress and potentially call strikes at those that do not. The move towards striking for free speech underscores the changing demands of younger union members and signals a shift in the labor movement as younger generations become more involved in organized labor.
