UAWD stands in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters at both UAW Locals 5118 and 2865 as they fight for fair and just improvements to their working conditions at Harvard and UCSC, respectively.

Harvard Graduate Students enter second week of strike

Why are Harvard Graduate Students currently on strike? A message from our Brothers and Sisters from Local 5118

“It has been over 18 months since we won our union in April 2018. In that time we have worked to secure fair pay, comprehensive and affordable healthcare, and protections against discrimination and harassment. And yet, the university administration has refused to agree to a fair agreement that includes these basic rights and protections.

HGSU-UAW began negotiations with Harvard University in October 2018, after surveying members to identify priorities and key issues.  Since then, we have made over 150 proposals on over 45 different issues in a good-faith attempt to reach an agreement.

We have reached tentative agreement on eleven articles (meaning that these articles will not be reopened for negotiation unless both parties agree to do so.

We are close to agreement on several articles, but unfortunately there remain disagreements on core issues, including compensation, health and dental care, and arbitration for claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.”

If you would like more information, or how to support UAW Local 5118 graduate students currently on strike, you can:

visit http://harvardgradunion.org/hgsu-uaw/

Follow and share their social media accounts:

 http://harvardgradunion.org/hgsu-uaw/ and https://twitter.com/hgsuuaw

If you would like to contribute to the HGSU-UAW Hardship Fund, visit http://harvardgradunion.org/strike/hardship/

Press regarding the HGSU-UAW Local 5118 strike:

Boston Globe

WBUR

The Crimson

ABC News


UCSC Graduate Students on Wildcat Strike for a Cost of Living Adjustment

Why are UCSC Graduate Student workers on a wildcat strike? A statement from our Brothers and Sisters from UAW Local 2865

“As early as September 2019, organizers as part of the Graduate Students Association-UAW Local 2865, and from across campus have been calling for a Cost of Living Adjustment. The demand has been presented to UCSC administration without equivocations. 

We demand: A COLA for every graduate student regardless of residence, visa, documentation, employment or funding status to bring us 1. Out of rent burden; and 2. To parity with grad students at UC Riverside. 

At current rates, this amounts to $1,412 a month. 

On November 7th, 200 grad students marched to Kerr Hall to put the university on notice, delivering our demands to Chancellor Cynthia Larive and Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor (EVC) Lori Kletzer verbally and in written form. 

The following week, nearly 80 people participated in a campout at the base of campus to make our demands visible during the Regents visit and to strategize. 

After a graduate student sent an email to the Chancellor and the EVC asking that they take immediate action on COLA, the EVC responded with intimidation, directing the student to a linked copy of the student conduct handbook. All grad students were cc-ed on this exchanged email, and in response, flooded the inboxes of administrators and fellow students. It was in these mass email exchanges that calls for a strike began. 

Six out of seven elected union leaders officially resigned from their positions that very evening. We did this in support of the calls for more militant action. Within 48 hours we had a straw poll circulating asking grad students if they wanted to strike and the overwhelming majority not only said yes, but they said they wanted to strike NOW! 

In another 24 hours we organized a Strike Assembly with over 250 students attending (in person and via Zoom) who in turn also voted to strike NOW via withholding grades.”

If you would like more information, or how to support UAW Local 2865 graduate students currently on strike, you can:

 visit www.payusmoreucsc.com

Follow and share their social media accounts: http://www.instagram.com/payusmoreucsc and https://twitter.com/bananaslums

Reach out to [email protected] if you want to contribute to the strike fund.

Reach out to [email protected] if you want to be a part of the Strike Rapid Response team on the ground and/or virtually. 

Subscribe to the COLA updates on their website.”


Press regarding the UAW Local 2865 strike: 

Santa Cruz Sentinel