The University of California Academic Workers Union expanded its ongoing strike Tuesday to UCLA and UC Davis, bringing the strike total to about 12,000 individuals.
The union, which represents 48,000 academic workers and graduates at the University of California, intensified its standoff Tuesday morning for three campuses, just over a week after 2,000 unions members began to picket at UC Santa Cruzreported media outlet Cal Matters.
About 60 members of the United Auto Workers Local 4811 union picketed at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Royce Quad at UCLA, where clashes broke out last month when a group of pro-Israel protesters tried to dismantle a pro-Palestine camp. Police entered the camp hours after the violence began, arresting some of those involved.
Pickets began simultaneously at UC Davis on Tuesday, which union confirmed on social media.
Union members protest the UC system’s response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus, which led to the arrest and suspension of several students and some union members. Union members argue that their free speech rights were violated when UC system leaders called police to forcibly remove pro-Palestinian camps, the Los Angeles Times reported last week.
Strike against workers on various campuses carried signs Tuesday reading “UAW on strike. Unfair labor practice.”
The union is demanding “amnesty” for all academic staff, students, student groups, faculty and staff who face disciplinary action or arrest due to protests,” along with the protection of free speech and political expression on campus.
It also calls for the divestment of “known UC investments in weapons manufacturers, military contractors and companies that profit from Israel’s war against GAZ” and for the disclosure of all sources of funding and investments in the UC system.
The union quickly presented an unfair labor practice indictment against UCLA following clashes earlier this month and later filed similar violations over police action at UC San Diego and UC Irvine camps.
When reached for comment, a UC Davis spokesperson told The Hill, “Our undergraduate students are working hard to prepare for the end of the academic term after a challenging year, and we are committed to maintaining a campus environment that supports your success.”
Last week, the UC President’s Office said it was “disappointed” that the UAW strike continued, saying it violates agreements in its contracts that include no-strike clauses “to advance issues that have no bearing on employment at UC ”.
“We are working with campus administrators to minimize disruptions as much as possible, but it is unavoidable and unfortunate, especially amid an already stressful quarter and educational experience for students,” the office said. wrote in a statement.
The Hill has reached out to UCLA for further comment.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
