UPTE is going on an unfair labor practice strike across the UC system on May 1

Apr 15

UPTE will be striking at all UC locations on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in response to UC's unfair labor practices. Learn more at upte.org/ucstrike.

On March 19, UC publicly announced a hiring freeze and has since implemented it at campuses without providing UPTE notice, let alone an opportunity to bargain over the freeze or its effects on our members—as it is legally required to do now that our contracts have expired.

Some campuses even apply the freeze to decisions about existing employees, such as reclassifications, promotions, equity increases, and conversion of term-limited employees to career employees.

After UPTE submitted a cease and desist and demand to bargain, the University explicitly refused to undo the hiring freeze so we could bargain. UC has also committed additional unfair practices like denying pension credit to workers at the hospitals it has acquired without bargaining, leaving these new workers behind, even as UC expands its market share.

This is all despite UC's holding more than $26 billion in liquid capital and a judge issuing a permanent stay on threatened across-the-board cuts to indirect cost reimbursements for research grants.

UC continues to act with impunity, and we can't let them get away with it—especially when a hiring freeze and leaving workers at new hospitals behind will only worsen already dire conditions for patients, students, and research. UC executives' refusal to protect frontline staff and essential services makes our campaign even more important.

RSVP HERE

UPTE members from UC Los Angeles, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside showed up and out to the “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” rally with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles.

Fortunately, we are not alone in blowing the whistle on UC's actions. Just last week, Senator Bernie Sanders heard stories from UPTE leaders across the state and then met with us following his "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Los Angeles. Dozens of California lawmakers have signed letters to UC President Drake, demanding that UC bargain in good faith.

It is sad to see UC executives using threats to public health, research, and education from the federal government as an excuse to undermine—rather than commit to using its vast resources to defend—the work that we do.

We have built the power to force them to do the right thing. Let's continue to use it until we win.