A union for academic workers within the University of California system announced on Thursday that an ongoing strike, sparked by the system’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, will extend to U.C.L.A. and U.C. Davis starting next Tuesday.
The expansion of the strike coincided with U.C.L.A. Chancellor Gene D. Block’s testimony before Congress regarding his management of a violent incident at a pro-Palestinian encampment last month.
Initially starting at U.C. Santa Cruz, the walkout has involved approximately 2,000 teaching assistants, tutors, and researchers, and threatens to disrupt coursework and spring finals for the 20,000 students enrolled there. With the spring quarters at the Santa Cruz, Davis, and Los Angeles campuses ending in mid-June, the strike poses significant challenges.
The union, U.A.W. 4811, part of the United Auto Workers, represents around 48,000 graduate students and other academic workers across the U.C. system. They have voiced concerns over the university’s response to campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, alleging it has created an unsafe work environment and constituted an unlawful change in free speech policies.
Workers have also claimed that disciplinary measures against those involved in the protests have resulted in barring some from campus and university housing. U.A.W. President Rafael Jaime stated the strike authorization extends through June 30.
University officials argue that the strike is an unlawful effort to push a political agenda and have sought an injunction from the state Public Employment Relations Board to end the walkout immediately.
In his Congressional testimony, Chancellor Block admitted to mistakes in handling last month’s encampment incident and noted the establishment of a new security office. The police response to the counterprotester attack is under investigation, and the campus police chief was recently removed.
More than 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested following the April 30 attack. When questioned by Representative Ilhan Omar about the apprehension of counterprotesters, Chancellor Block indicated that the Los Angeles Police Department is working to identify those involved.
As Block testified, a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters formed a new encampment on U.C.L.A.’s campus, though it appeared abandoned by Thursday afternoon.
