The University Council – American Federation of Teachers began its contract negotiations with the UC system with a small rally and bake sale Feb. 19. A new contract would govern the more than 7,000 teaching faculty members and librarians UC-AFT represents throughout the UC system.
During the rally at Wurster Hall, UC-AFT members assembled to observe the prebargaining process, which defines the ground rules of future negotiations, according to David Skolnick, the co-Chair for the Bay Area chapter of UC-AFT and a College Writing Programs lecturer.
“At a baseline, we’re defending what we have, because the university is going to be using all the mandates coming from the federal government as an excuse to try to claw back what we’ve already won,” Skolnick said.
Skolnick noted the union’s focus going into negotiations on job security, healthcare, workload and pay.
He also cited the presence of AI, technology and surveillance in the classroom as issues that would be discussed in bargaining.
“We’re hoping to make more clarity and also provide more language that ensures job security,” said Tommy Tran, a member of the UC-AFT bargaining team for UC Merced and lecturer at UC Merced. “Given the current climate, job security is a very serious problem, especially for academic appointees in the UC system. So we’re hoping to make a more secure contract.”
Tran alleged the existing contract is vague and allows the UC system to “renege on their promises to faculty” and “reduce work hours arbitrarily.”
After the prebargaining began, UC-AFT members set up a bake sale outside of California Hall.
“One of the goals is to publicize what’s going on now with the UC-AFT,” Skolnick said.
Half of the proceeds were donated to Minneapolis food organizations while the other half went to the union’s hardship fund, according to Skolnick.
The rally was one of many across the state on UC campuses Feb. 19.