UC ULP STRIKE UPDATE: DAY TWO

Berkeley, CA – Classrooms and research labs remained shuttered across UC’s ten campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab today as strikers hit the picket line for a second day. Solidarity poured in from professors who refused to hold classes, members of the House and Senate, and 2.1 million fellow California union members who are supporting the strike. News crews from Good Morning America, CNN, NPR, the Associated Press, the LA Times, the New York Times and many other outlets covered the strike. 

Bargaining Update

After UC administrators said they would not bargain today, picketing workers at every campus held rallies to ask UC to come to the table. In response to UC’s new proposal to shift to mediation, UAW 2865 President Rafael Jaime said, “At this point, the priority should be round the clock bargaining in good faith as opposed to switching to a mediation process. We remain willing and able to meet with the University on an ongoing basis to reach a resolution.” 

Administrators finally agreed to bargain, starting at 2pm.  

Parties discussed benefits related to green transit. The Union has proposed public transit passes, subsidies for the use and purchase of bikes and e-bikes, and other incentives for the use of alternative transportation. The University noted that they are still discussing e-bike discounts with their vendors and would “make efforts” to establish transit passes, despite months of negotiating on the topic. The Union proposed a compromise in the hope of reaching resolution.