UC Academic Workers' Strike Halts: Judge Orders Temporary Cease Amidst Critical Period for Students
A series of events unfolded on June 7, 2024, when a Superior Court judge granted the University of California (UC) a temporary restraining order to halt the ongoing strike by UAW-represented academic workers across six campuses. The decision came after UC filed a lawsuit against UAW for breach of contract due to the strike violating no-strike clauses in their collective bargaining agreements.
The illegal walkout, which began on May 20 at UC Santa Cruz and expanded to other campuses, was causing significant damage to students' education during a critical period. The temporary pause in the strike will allow students to complete their academic studies without further setbacks or research project delays.
UC officials argued that the strike was causing irreparable harm, including cancellations of classes and potential long-term consequences for research projects. They expressed gratitude for the court's decision, stating it would protect labor peace across the system while they continued to pursue legal claims in state court and PERB.
The union representing UC academic workers had previously failed twice before the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to halt their strike over alleged violations of workers' free speech rights during pro-Palestinian protests. The next hearing on the case was scheduled for June 27, which could potentially end the walkout.
The union, United Auto Workers Local 4811, stated they were surveying rank-and-file workers on how to proceed following the court order. Some members were protesting treatment of their colleagues who had been arrested and forcibly ejected by police during demonstrations calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
The struggle is not over, as it remains unclear whether the union's actions are illegal in any way. The university system maintains that the strike is not related to employment terms and violates their contract.
