Student Researchers United-UAW (SRU-UAW) was a union representing student researchers at the University of California (UC). It was part of the United Auto Workers.[1] The union was composed of more than 17,000 people who work across 10 UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.[2] They were the largest 2021 addition to the UAW, accounting for 0.1% of union members in the US, and, according to organizers, were "the largest academic student employee union in US history."[3][4][5] The union later joined UAW 2865 and ceased to be an independent entity.[6]
| Formation | 2021 |
|---|---|
Region | California |
| Website | https://studentresearchersunited.org/ |
History edit
Beginnings edit
Research assistants were not considered employees in California until the passage of state legislation from Nancy Skinner, SB 201, in 2017.[7][8][9] The UC opposed this legislation.[10] Planning for the union began in early 2020.[7]
2021 edit
To advocate for the union, organizers submitted more than 10,000 union authorization cards to California's Public Employers Relations Board and gathered more than 5,000 signatures from student researchers on a resolution in support of union recognition.[1][3] In October 2021, a group of congresspeople that included a majority of the California congressional delegation and was led by Katie Porter sent a letter to Michael V. Drake, president of the UC, in support of the union.[11] A group of 49 state legislators led by Buffy Wicks sent a similar letter on November 18, 2021.[4][12][8] In November 2021, a majority of student workers voted to strike.[13] The University of California recognized the union in December 2021.[2]
2022 edit
SRU-UAW members were among the 36,500 academic workers who participated in a strike authorization vote that concluded on November 2, 2022, with more than 97% approving.[14] The strike began on November 14 and ended December 23 with 69% of SRU-UAW voting to ratify their first contract.[15][16]
2023 edit
The joint council (comprising executive board members of UAW Locals 2865 and 5810) voted for SRU-UAW to adjoin UAW Local 2865, forming one local with a single bargaining unit for all graduate student workers, a group that includes teaching assistants, tutors, readers, graduate student researchers, trainees, and fellows.[17]
References edit
- ^ a b "Thousands of Student Researchers Are Unionizing". Teen Vogue. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b "University Of California Recognizes Graduate Student Researchers' Union". LAist. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Banks, Jess; Akhtar, Ahmed (2021-12-17). "How the Largest Union Fight of 2021 Was Won". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Howard, Phoebe Wall. "UAW grows by 17,000 academic workers in California after threat to strike UC". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "17,000 University of California Researchers Could Soon Win a Union". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ https://dailybruin.com/2023/02/28/student-researchers-united-merges-with-united-auto-workers-local-2865
- ^ a b "Amid pandemic disruptions, grad students push to unionize". www.science.org. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ a b Staff, Julie Madsen | Senior (2021-11-23). "10K UC student researchers authorize a strike to recognize their union". The Daily Californian. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Dec 31, Nicholas Liu Fri; 2021 | 2:31pm (2021-12-31). "UC Student Researchers Union Gains Recognition". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Beyond Bruin Walk: California must do more to support employee unions, labor-friendly laws". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Hanshaw, Annelise (2021-12-14). "University of California recognizes Student Researchers United". Santa Barbara News-Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "UC Student Researchers Threaten To Strike If Union Goes Unrecognized". LAist. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Recognition strike: UC student researchers favor walk out". Capitol Weekly. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Miller, Maya (November 2, 2022). "Thousands of UC researchers, teaching assistants authorize strike across 10 campuses". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Toohey, Grace; Lin, Summer; San Román, Gabriel (November 14, 2022). "UC officials call for mediator as strike by 48,000 academic workers causes systemwide disruptions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "UAW ratifies contracts for graduate student workers, ends historic UC-wide strike". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ UAW2865. "UNIT MODIFICATION FAQ | UAW 2865". Retrieved 2024-01-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)