Student Researchers United-UAW
| Formation | 2021 |
|---|---|
Region | California |
| Website | https://studentresearchersunited.org/ |
Student Researchers United-UAW (SRU-UAW) was a union representing student researchers at the University of California (UC). It was part of the United Auto Workers.[1] The union was composed of more than 17,000 people who work across 10 UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.[2] They were the largest 2021 addition to the UAW, accounting for 0.1% of union members in the US, and, according to organizers, were "the largest academic student employee union in US history."[3][4][5] The union later joined UAW 2865 and ceased to be an independent entity.[6]
History
[edit]Beginnings
[edit]Research assistants were not considered employees in California until the passage of state legislation from Nancy Skinner, SB 201, in 2017.[7][8][9] The UC opposed this legislation.[10] Planning for the union began in early 2020.[7]
2021
[edit]To advocate for the union, organizers submitted more than 10,000 union authorization cards to California's Public Employers Relations Board and gathered more than 5,000 signatures from student researchers on a resolution in support of union recognition.[1][3] In October 2021, a group of congresspeople that included a majority of the California congressional delegation and was led by Katie Porter sent a letter to Michael V. Drake, president of the UC, in support of the union.[11] A group of 49 state legislators led by Buffy Wicks sent a similar letter on November 18, 2021.[4][12][8] In November 2021, a majority of student workers voted to strike.[13] The University of California recognized the union in December 2021.[2]
2022
[edit]SRU-UAW members were among the 36,500 academic workers who participated in a strike authorization vote that concluded on November 2, 2022, with more than 97% approving.[14] The strike began on November 14 and ended December 23 with 69% of SRU-UAW voting to ratify their first contract.[15][16]
2023
[edit]The joint council (comprising executive board members of UAW Locals 2865 and 5810) voted for SRU-UAW to adjoin UAW Local 2865, forming one local with a single bargaining unit for all graduate student workers, a group that includes teaching assistants, tutors, readers, graduate student researchers, trainees, and fellows.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Thousands of Student Researchers Are Unionizing". Teen Vogue. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b "University Of California Recognizes Graduate Student Researchers' Union". LAist. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Banks, Jess; Akhtar, Ahmed (2021-12-17). "How the Largest Union Fight of 2021 Was Won". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Howard, Phoebe Wall. "UAW grows by 17,000 academic workers in California after threat to strike UC". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "17,000 University of California Researchers Could Soon Win a Union". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ https://dailybruin.com/2023/02/28/student-researchers-united-merges-with-united-auto-workers-local-2865
- ^ a b "Amid pandemic disruptions, grad students push to unionize". www.science.org. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Madsen, Julie (2021-11-23). "10K UC student researchers authorize a strike to recognize their union". The Daily Californian. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Liu, Nicholas (2021-12-31). "UC Student Researchers Union Gains Recognition". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Beyond Bruin Walk: California must do more to support employee unions, labor-friendly laws". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Hanshaw, Annelise (2021-12-14). "University of California recognizes Student Researchers United". Santa Barbara News-Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "UC Student Researchers Threaten To Strike If Union Goes Unrecognized". LAist. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Recognition strike: UC student researchers favor walk out". Capitol Weekly. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Miller, Maya (November 2, 2022). "Thousands of UC researchers, teaching assistants authorize strike across 10 campuses". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Toohey, Grace; Lin, Summer; San Román, Gabriel (November 14, 2022). "UC officials call for mediator as strike by 48,000 academic workers causes systemwide disruptions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "UAW ratifies contracts for graduate student workers, ends historic UC-wide strike". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ "Unit Modification FAQ". UAW 2865. Retrieved 2024-01-27.