Tuesday, outside of Starbucks, Chipotle, Jack in the Box and other restaurants to protest the companies鈥� efforts to qualify a 2024 referendum to overturn a new state law. The first-in-the-nation law, , would create a state council to regulate fast food industry working conditions and push the minimum wage to as much as $22 per hour next year.
Meanwhile, 48,000 University of California academic workers 鈥� who conduct much of the teaching, grading and research at the nation鈥檚 premier public university system 鈥� are prepared to begin their second straight day of strikes at all 10 UC campuses to demand significantly higher wages , improved child care subsidies, enhanced health coverage and other benefits.
The widespread walkout of teaching assistants, postdocs, graduate student researchers and other employees and 鈥� not long before the start of final exams.
The UC strikes have attracted the attention of some of the state鈥檚 most powerful leaders: 33 state lawmakers urging him to 鈥渁vert strikes by ceasing to commit unfair labor practices and begin bargaining in good faith鈥� with the four United Auto Workers unions representing the academic employees. The UC Regents are in San Francisco.
- The lawmakers, led by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, a San Jose Democrat and chairperson of his chamber鈥檚 labor and employment committee: 鈥淎s one of California鈥檚 largest employers, the UC has not only the opportunity but also the obligation to be a leader in setting industry standards for academia, thus leading the way for other public employers. 鈥� By failing to do so, UC is risking mass disruption and losing the talent that has earned UC its prestigious reputation.鈥�
- UC that it 鈥渟trongly disagrees鈥� with allegations that it has committed unfair labor practices, adding, 鈥淭hroughout the negotiations, UC has listened carefully to the union鈥檚 concerns and bargained in good faith,鈥� including by making offers that are 鈥済enerous, responsive to union priorities, and recognize the many valuable contributions of these employees.鈥�
The fearsome California Labor Federation, led by former state lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, also threw the weight of its 1,200 unions behind the UC workers that allows its 2 million members to honor picket lines. Other labor groups, , did the same 鈥� which could limit deliveries to UC campuses during the strike.
颁补濒惭补迟迟别谤蝉鈥� fellow Megan Tagami spoke with some of the hundreds of protesters 鈥� including undergraduate students and faculty members supporting the academic workers 鈥� at UCLA on Monday.
Aya Konishi, a doctoral student in the sociology department, said she regularly commutes two hours round-trip between West Hollywood and Westwood because her current salary prevents her from living closer to campus. Even so, she said, half of her $2,400 monthly salary still goes toward rent.
- Konishi: 鈥淔or many of us, more than 30% of our paycheck every month goes towards rent. And that鈥檚 a very huge issue that I think applies to many, many people in our union.鈥�
And more strikes are headed UC鈥檚 way: On Wednesday, unionized resident physicians and fellows at UCLA hospitals are set to hold a 鈥渦nity break鈥� to call for improved pay and benefits. 鈥淒espite serving on the frontlines of the state鈥檚 largest healthcare system, residents at UCLA are overworked and underpaid, while often carrying over $200,000 on average in student loan debt,鈥� according to the Committee of Interns and Residents, part of the Services Employees International Union.
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