University of California (UC) postdoctoral scholars and researchers resumed work this week after ratifying a labor contract over the weekend, but 36,000 graduate student workers continue to strike.
Last month, 48,000 researchers and student employees across all 10 UC campuses launched a strike, demanding, in part, pay raises due to cost-of-living increases.
UC officials struck a tentative deal with the postdoctoral scholars and researchers Nov. 29, but they said they would not return to work until their contract was ratified and out of solidarity with the remaining graduate students.
According to United Auto Workers, the union representing the strikers, the agreement for postdoctoral scholars includes up to a 23 percent salary increase by October 2023, up to $2,500 annual childcare reimbursement with annual $100 increases over the next three years, two-year initial appointments, and a new paid leave program with 100 percent pay for up to eight weeks….