(This is from the CWA newsletter)
University of California
More than 40,000 University of California employees went on strike on Wednesday for 24 hours across UC campuses and medical centers in the largest strike of 2019. UPTE-CWA Research (RX) and Technical (TX) members are striking for a fair contract, and UPTE-CWA Healthcare and AFSCME workers went on strike in solidarity. They were joined on the picket lines by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who spoke at a rally at UCLA, and other elected officials including Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Assemblymember David Chiu.
University of California's bargaining team recently presented what they are calling a "Last, Best, and Final Offer" for Research and Technical members of UPTE-CWA. The offer still contains unnecessary and unacceptable cuts including eliminating step increases for pay, no daily overtime or protections for full-time work, putting pension benefits in jeopardy by pushing new hires to choose a risky 401(k), and more. The offer would also limit the right to file a grievance in cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence.