The graduate student union, UAW 2865, voted on June 2 against holding a vote to authorize a labor strike. The union’s bargaining committee voted 10-8 against holding a vote. The following day, UAW 2865 tweeted that its members should continue to build support to get the university to bargain over housing and other issues.
The union started campaigning for an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike in early April as strike activities increased nationwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since February, graduate students throughout the university have participated in unauthorized strikes with #COLA4ALL, a grassroots movement sparked at UC Santa Cruz fighting for a cost of living pay increase.