Lab-oring for better working conditions, CAHFS members harness their solidarity to march on their boss

UPTE members from the Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (EACL) and BioTech Laboratory at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS) marched on management, demanding transparency and a follow-up on their petition for staff research associates and laboratory assistants requiring equity reviews, more cross-training opportunities, and improved career development and staffing.

"A significant problem is the high turnover we've been having in our lab," said Téa Schepper, a Staff Research Associate 1 in the CAHFS Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. "It's been contributing to low morale across the board because I noticed a high turnover when I first started working here. And I was like, 'Oh, what's going on?' It's because people aren't happy with how things are going. Much of the turnover is due to people finding better job offers with higher pay. We had someone who worked here for three months, but then she got a higher-paying job and just left. Many of the people I worked with when I first came here actually are no longer working here anymore."

CAHFS plays a crucial role in maintaining California's livestock and poultry safety and health. The system is a vital component of the state's early warning framework, ensuring the well-being of these animals. CAHFS is dedicated to serving the Californian community by offering fast and accurate diagnoses of animal diseases, including those transmissible to humans. Their commitment is to provide top-notch services that not only safeguard animal health and performance but also protect public health and the integrity of the food supply.

After working on separate letters to management to address multiple workplace issues, UPTE members at CAHFS joined across laboratories, uniting their efforts to demand better working conditions and strategizing the following steps to win.

"We have seen an increase in involvement with the union," said Kristin Chu, an SRA 2 at the CAHFS BioTech Lab. "We met with Amy Fletcher, our UC Davis chapter co-chair, and UPTE organizers. Communication was key. We set up group texts with consistent updates, creating buy-in around the petition and garnering support for the upcoming action."

The march on the boss forced management at CAHFS to commit to an equity review—not just for the two laboratories but for the entire laboratory system. UPTE members will hold a strategy meeting this month to plan the next steps in winning their demands.

"I was happy we could get so many people together. I appreciated that both sections came together to march directly and physically deliver the letter to management. I feel like once you have enough unhappy people together delivering a letter, it makes a statement that we want change for our workplace, recalled Téa. "If you're feeling unhappy due to poor management or other issues, ask your coworkers if they feel the same," voiced Téa. "When you discover it's a common feeling, you can unite and say, 'Okay, so we're all feeling this way, it's not just me. Maybe we should do something about it.' 

Kristin agrees, adding, "The big message is the more people, the better."