UC Davis workers achieve significant victories, building momentum during early contract negotiations

Members at the California National Primate Research Center, a federally-funded biomedical research facility dedicated to improving human and animal health,. organized a march on the boss late last year over better working conditions and demanded an equity review, which ultimately resulted in equity increases.

Emily Fletcher, an Animal Health Technician 3, shared the challenges and successes of the campaign. “It started with recognizing the high turnover and increased workload. We realized we weren’t being compensated fairly,” she said. The collective efforts and an equity letter led to pay raises for many in the unit, with employees moving up one to three steps, marking a $1 to $2 per hour increase. “It’s making it a lot easier for me to do things and not worry about living paycheck to paycheck,” Emily added, underscoring the personal impact of these raises.

Simultaneously, Animal Health Technician 4s at the Campus Veterinary Services also fought for and won an equity review, comparing their roles to those at the Primate Center. 

Diana Leal, one of the key organizers, described the essential nature of their work. “We take care of all the research and teaching animals. Without us, procedures would be canceled, and animals wouldn’t get the care they need,” she explained. The department’s recognition of their critical skills and the necessity to retain these employees led to team-wide raises, including employees moving three to five steps up on the pay scale, amounting to $3 to $4 per hour more. Diana emphasized the broader implications: “Winning these raises shows that we are willing to stand up and say we need these things, which is crucial as we begin bargaining.”

Kim Alca, another Animal Health Technician 4, highlighted the solidarity that led to these successes. “We wrote a letter with support from our supervisors, showing the discrepancies in our pay compared to other technicians. We had one-on-one conversations with everyone on the team to create buy-in and, ultimately, ownership over what we’re fighting for. That told the university that we are united and won’t back down. These collective actions and the data we presented were crucial in winning our raises,” she said. 

The team’s combined efforts were vital in pushing management to act before new contract negotiations, resulting in a timely equity adjustment. These victories at UC Davis are more than just financial wins; they represent a growing momentum among workers across the UC system. As new contract negotiations begin, these successes are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through solidarity and organized effort. 

“Seeing that we won raises without the new contract encourages other departments to step up and take action now. It’s a sign that collective action works,” Emily noted. As Diana succinctly put it, “Our roles are indispensable, and this acknowledgment from the university is a step in the right direction. It’s about respect and fairness.”