The largest higher education strike in U.S. history ended on December 23, 2022. On November 14, 2022, 48,000 teaching assistants, postdocs, researchers, and graders started striking.

The University of California system consists of 10 universities in California, including UCSB.

UC academic workers were asking for higher pay, childcare reimbursements, extended leave for parents and caregivers, and full public transit funding.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) (the union that represents these workers) asked for minimum salaries of $54,000 for all graduate workers, $70,000 for post docs, and a 14% salary increase for academic researchers. In addition to this, the UAW asked for annual cost of living adjustments and experience based increases. They also requested $2,000 per month in childcare reimbursements and extended leave for parents and caregivers.

On November 29th, the University of California announced unconfirmed agreements with UAW on new five year contracts for postdocs and academic researchers. Once approved by union members, new contracts will be effective through September 2027 for postdocs and academic researchers .

By October of 2024 the minimum nine month salary will be $34,000 for part time workers. Paid leave will be extended from six weeks to eight weeks per year for serious health conditions, family care, baby bonding, pregnancy or childbirth related needs. Along with child care reimbursements and public transit funding.

“Under the terms of the new contracts, these workers will be among the best supported in public higher education in the country,” the University of California website said.(https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/UAW )
_______________________________________________________
Read more about this:
UC website: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/UAW
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/UAW
UAW website: https://uaw5810.org/2022/11/29/major-victory-tentative-agreements-for-ars-postdocs/