In Solidarity with UAW’s Strike Vote & Campus Protests

UPTE stands in solidarity with protestors at UC and other universities calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. We condemn UCLA leadership’s failure to protect students, staff, and faculty from violent counter-protestors, none of whom were arrested.

We are deeply disturbed by the UCLA administration’s decision to violently break up peaceful anti-war demonstrations and arrange the arrest of dozens of students. We also condemn the UCSD Chancellor’s similar repression of democratic protest. UC Riverside’s decision to engage students in constructive dialogue and negotiation stands in stark contrast and represents a blueprint for leadership at other campuses.

UPTE Psychologists, Social Workers, and Counselors who provide mental health support to UC students have been overwhelmed with students traumatized by the University’s behavior. We demand that the University respect their students’ right to free speech and peaceful protest, and cease actions—including pursuing disciplinary action against student protestors—that cause further harm.

50,000 academic workers represented by UAW 4811 have filed unfair labor practice charges and will be voting whether to strike in response. A strike could begin as soon as Wednesday, May 15.

We join UAW’s call for UC to de-escalate and divest, which you can read in full here at their website. We stand in solidarity with them as they weigh the decision to withhold their labor. We call on UPTE members to turn down any voluntary requests to perform struck UAW work such as exam proctoring, and report to UPTE immediately any UAW work that you are being told to perform. While UPTE is prohibited from calling a sympathy strike, we encourage you to attend rallies and picket lines before and after work and during break periods.

In December, UPTE’s Executive Board issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to our government’s funding of this conflict. We also made a donation to Doctors Without Borders to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We remain committed to defending the rights of our members and the entire University community to participate in non-violent protests and exercise their First Amendment rights. We will also continue work with our union, student, and community allies to ensure the University fulfills its obligation to provide a safe place to work, learn, and heal.