The union that represents academic workers in the University of California system has voted to strike in response to response to the system’s actions during recent campus protests.
United Auto Workers Local 4811 shared the vote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The union said the vote was “in response to the UC’s unprecedented acts of intimidation and retaliation directed at our rights as academic employees to free speech, protest and collective action.”
The organization said 79% of participating members voted to authorize a strike if the circumstances justify.
The UC academic workers last went on strike at the end of 2022, including at UC Davis. That strike was to demand higher wages and benefits.
The union said 19,780 members voted this time around.
The union is comprised of teaching assistants, student researchers, tutors, readers, postdocs, specialists, researchers, project scientists and coordinators of public programs.
The union said the executive board will evaluate and, on Friday, will announce whether to call on a campus to strike.
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