Statewide ULP Strike on April 1!

UPTE will be striking all UC locations on April 1 in response to UC’s unfair labor practices. 

During our contract negotiations, UC has refused to bargain over pay scales and other issues unique to the thousands of workers in non-union titles who joined UPTE in the past few years, most recently Research and Development Engineers. Many of these workers have been attempting to bargain separately for more than three years now.

UC wants every new title to keep being stuck in a separate bargaining process forever—in short, an illegal “divide-and-conquer” tactic that ultimately UC could extend to all of us simply by moving us to non-union titles. 

UC also imposed higher healthcare premiums during bargaining for many workers—unilaterally, with no prior notice, even though UC promised that it would not increase premiums while it was bargaining with us. 

Be sure to RSVP now at upte.org/ucstrike and plan to join us on the picket lines on April 1.

UC's unfair labor practices are designed to undermine bargaining and make your coworkers think that it is somehow futile for us to try to bargain for better staffing, career progression, wages, benefits and job protections. Our strike, with your participation, will show UC that their unfair practices are having the opposite effect—strengthening our unity and resolve.

UPTE has a hardship fund available to those facing hardship due to loss of pay during the strike and who attend a complete shift at the picket line. You must fill out a hardship form application on the picket line on April 1 and sign in and sign out at the picket line to be eligible. 

We will be hosting a Pre-Strike Town Hall to provide updates and answer your questions on Tuesday, March 25, at 6 pm. Register for our pre-strike town hall here.

If you are already working when the strike begins on April 1, finish your shift. Additionally, do not go to work mid-shift on April 2nd for shifts that start on the 1st.

Please invite friends and family to join you on the picket line. Our numbers, our stories, and our solidarity are essential for UC to change course on its unlawful behavior. 

In solidarity,

Dan Russell
UPTE President
UPTE Bargaining Team Chief Negotiator
UC Berkeley Business Technical Support Analyst 3