Thousands of UPTE members across the state rally to reject UC's inaction, misplaced priorities, and disregard of the law

During August, UPTE members at every UC campus and medical center across the state hosted mass meetings to share bargaining updates and talk about the importance of getting strike-ready. In a powerful display of our solidarity, thousands of healthcare, research, and technical workers came out to participate and sign their strike commitment pledges.

UC can’t pretend that they don’t know or understand our issues. At every bargaining session, members have shown up in force to pack the room in support of our demands. 

We’ve shared first-hand testimony in support of our demands—the researcher who schedules their lunch around when the food bank truck is close to their worksite because they can’t afford to survive on what UC is paying them, the campus mental health clinician who worries about having enough staff to work with students struggling with stress or even suicidality, and more.

We know from experience that UC wil not begin to move in negotiations until there is real pressure. That’s why we need to be prepared to take action with a supermajority of all of our coworkers by November 1, when our contracts expire. Our goal is to be ready for a supermajority of UPTE members across the state to be ready to strike if needed.

“When we’ve asked why UC is failing to respond to staff needs at the table, their bargaining team will either offer us no justification or will refer vaguely to budgeting concerns. Just last week, one member of the administration’s team even said that they, ‘don’t consider our stories to be gospel truth.’ Do they think we’re lying?” asked Matt Stephen, a Physician Assistant at UCSF and member of UPTE’s bargaining team. 

“The fact that they are refusing to make progress is frustrating but not surprising considering that they have played the same game with many of our fellow union members in AFSCME 3299 and UAW 4811. But you know as well as I do that UC is sitting on over 28 billion dollars in reserves and countless more in investments. UC has the money and authority to invest in us,” said Amelia Cutten, a Behavioral Health Counselor at UCSC and member of UPTE’s bargaining team.

Five years ago when we were negotiating our last contract, the University was offering only 10% in raises over 5 years, trying to cut our pension and remove limits on healthcare increases. When we went on strike, we stopped their cuts and won wage increases that were over 20% higher. That was with only 2,500 workers statewide participating on the picket lines.

Looking back at the last few weeks, we have seen thousands of UC workers who are prepared to take action stand up and commit to voting for a strike and walking the picket line, if need be. Our strength truly does come from our numbers, meaning we have more power than ever to win if we’re willing to stay the course and fight. 

We have the power together to win this contract, but we won’t win it just because your bargaining team members are arguing at the table. We have to win it through collective action. If you haven’t already, sign your strike commitment pledge today at upte.org/strike.