2025 Convention Report: UPTE is ready to strike UC, take on billionaires

Written By Traci Borgh

The energy, enthusiasm, and solidarity on display at the thirty-third annual UPTE Convention in San Diego were incredible. It was much needed after another year of hard work, where we struck UC four times and executed UPTE's first-ever UC-wide majority strike vote.

UPTE members shared why they are committed to continuing this fight and strategized on how to make our upcoming strike vote, beginning on September 22, and longer strikes successful.

We also discussed how we can work with other unions and workers to stop the billionaire-led attacks on public healthcare, education, and research. UPTE members were excited to learn from guests from the Chicago Teachers Union and UNITE HERE who have run successful strikes and community campaigns. They elected their own leaders to public office. We heard from multiple guests about the importance of supporting California Proposition 50—the Election Rigging Response Act—to stop the federal attacks on public healthcare, research, and education.

An inspiring array of speakers joined us:

  • CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., and Vice Presidents Margaret Cook and Frank Arce

  • Ada Briceño, UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President & candidate for California's 67th State Assembly district

  • Jesse Sharkey, former president of the Chicago Teachers Union

  • Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions

  • Bridget Browning, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council & president of UNITE HERE Local 30

  • Anna Sindelar, California Nurses Association Chief Nurse Representative at Hillcrest Medical Center at UC San Diego Health & UC bargaining team member

We also danced, sang, and socialized; strengthening the relationships that will carry us through another year of hard work defending our patients, research, and students.

In the next year, let's finish our UC contract fight and join with our communities and other unions to step up the fight against the billionaires and for improved public healthcare, research, and education.

Dan Russell
UPTE President & Chief Negotiator
Business Technology Support Analyst, UC Berkeley


Traci Borgh
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Strike Vote! Sept 22 - Oct 2