Strike by 48,000 University of California academic workers causes systemwide disruptions
LOS ANGELES — About 48,000 unionized academic workers across the University of California’s 10 campuses — who perform the majority of teaching and research at the state’s premier higher education system — walked off the job Monday morning, calling for better pay and benefits.
In the nation’s largest strike of the year, teaching assistants, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, tutors and fellows across UC’s system took to the picket line, prompting canceled classes, shuttered labs and other academic disruptions just weeks before final exams. The strike, which union leaders said was the largest at any academic institution in history, also included workers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
And as of Monday afternoon, it appeared the massive work stoppage would probably continue Tuesday.
“We’re going to be out here as long as it takes,” said Rafael Jaime, president of UAW Local 2865, which represents 19,000 of the 48,000 workers. “The workers are still feeling energized and optimistic that we can win.”
Jaime said one of
