Union members representing UC academic and research employees said at a demonstration Thursday that they plan to strike as soon as next week if the University does not meet their contract demands.

United Auto Workers represents more than 40,000 UC employees across three bargaining units, which are currently in negotiations with the University – UAW Local 4811’s academic student employees units, Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW and Student Services and Advising Professionals-UAW. The union authorized an unfair labor practice strike Feb. 13, with more than 93% of voting members authorizing the vote and announced a “last chance picket” on its accounts Feb. 23.

The units’ demands include higher wages, better job security, protections for international student workers – including a legal defense fund – and academic freedom safeguards. The union held demonstrations across all 10 UC campuses Thursday, including outside of Royce Hall. 

UAW Local 4811 has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against the UC, alleging that the University unilaterally increased fees on certain graduate programs, failed to sufficiently respond to more than 50 requests for information pertinent to bargaining and capped teaching assistant appointments. RPSP-UAW and SSAP-UAW also filed ULP charges against the UC for alleged bad faith bargaining and failures to respond to information requests.

Heather Hansen, a UC Office of the President spokesperson, said in a Wednesday statement that the University strongly disagrees with the union’s ULP claims.

RPSP-UAW and SSAP-UAW are both currently in the process of negotiating their first contracts, and UAW Local 4811 – whose current contract expired Feb. 28 – began negotiating its contract in July 2025.

Demonstrators also announced the formation of a new UAW unit which represents communication, marketing and sales professionals. The vote to certify the union – which represents 2,000 employees – happened Wednesday, said Willa Needam, a communications specialist at the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, in a speech. 

“We are super thrilled to be coming together, especially at this moment that feels really powerful and pivotal, as so many of these contracts are being bargained right now, we’re just adding to the collective power of the UC staff,” Needham said.

Hansen said in a Thursday statement that the University respects the formation of the new unit, and looks forward to working with its members

More than 200 people gathered in front of Royce Hall at about noon and began marching throughout Royce Quad. Many protesters held picket signs which read “UAW prepared to strike, unfair labor practice.” 

The demonstrators’ chants included, “What’s disgusting? Union busting. What’s appalling? UC stalling” and “40,000 ready to fight, ASEs and staff unite.”

Hansen said in the Wednesday statement that the University is focused on making progress with the union at the bargaining table.

“The University of California has been bargaining in good faith with United Auto Workers for the past eight months, and in recent weeks, our teams have been working around the clock in mediation to move negotiations forward,” Hansen said in the Wednesday statement. “Our focus is on making real progress while ensuring any agreements are financially sustainable and workable across the entire UC system.” 

Demonstrators reconvened in front of Royce Hall at about 12:30 p.m., as some UAW members gave speeches.

Trisha Tran, an undergraduate advisor in the department of mathematics, said in a speech that she became the most veteran employee in her department within two years of beginning her role. Five of her coworkers quit due to burnout, she added.

“As more students are admitted each year, we’re spread thin with intense workloads and understaffing,” she said.

Demonstrators marched through Dickson Plaza toward Murphy Hall at about 1 p.m., past Murphy Hall chanting “What do we want? Fair Contracts. When do we want them? Now. If we don’t get them? Shut them down.” Two demonstrators blocked parts of Dickson Court and Charles E. Young Drive as the union marched through the street. 

“We would prefer that the union doesn’t disrupt traffic at the same time people are allowed to walk, so they continually moved and they listened to the direction of traffic control officers,” said Jeffrey Chobanian, the captain of UCPD’s operations bureau. 

The union marched past Franz Hall, and then paused in the Court of Sciences for more speeches.

John Erickson, a West Hollywood City councilmember who is running to be the state senator for California’s 24th district said he believes state legislators should hold the UC accountable and ensure it pays workers fair wages.

“Come to the table, offer a fair deal and remember these are students, these are researchers,” he said. “These are the people that are making UCLA, the amazing university that it is nationally, because they’re inventing the new medicines, the new technologies.”

Gaby Barrios, the assistant director for STEM Ph.D. students for UCLA’s Graduate Career Services, said she has been involved with UAW organizing for nearly a decade – when she was a doctoral student herself at UCLA.

“We are not necessarily calling a strike right now, but we are telling the university that we are comfortable with preparing for an unfair labor practice strike if conditions are met,” she said.

Jacqueline Perez, a trustee on UAW Local 4811’s executive board, said the next few days are the UC’s last opportunity to bargain in good faith, adding that the union could go on strike as early as next week.

“Management … they already were on notice, and this picket was their last chance, their last opportunity to actually get their act together and bargain in good faith,” Perez said. “Ultimately, they haven’t resolved their ULPs, and now they’ve got until Sunday night at the latest for us to be able to set strike dates.”

Diego Bollo, the president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, said the council urges students to support the strike if it is called, adding that USAC did the same in 2022 – when UAW Local 4811’s predecessor unions launched the largest higher education strike in United States history. 

Spencer Pennington, a history doctoral student, said he wants to avoid a strike and believes the Thursday demonstration was the best way to convey the union’s message. 

Hanna Moon, a graduate student researcher in the department of psychology, said graduate students are at UCLA to research – not to rally and strike, adding that the UC is forcing them to have to do so.

“If you want us to do our jobs that we really care about, are passionate about, just give us better wages that we deserve,” Moon said. “Because ultimately, what we want to do is research, and that’s what we’re here to do. So don’t make us spend time doing strikes and union activity. If you give us a better contract, we will stop doing it.”

About a dozen UCPD officers monitored the rally, Chobanian said. About four campus safety officers followed behind the protesters on bikes throughout the event. 

He added that the UCPD officers were stationed because larger demonstrations can lead to disruptive counterprotesting, but said the march was safe.

“We appreciate and uphold the First Amendment, and today, this was a win for the First Amendment and employee and labor rights,” Chobanian said.

Anna Markowitz, the president of the UCLA Faculty Association, said students – especially those who want to attend graduate school within the UC – should care about what the union is fighting for because it could benefit them in the future.

“The other thing about a union is that their victories become the victories of the next generation of folks,” she said. “The wages that these folks are fighting for, the power over their working conditions that these folks are fighting for, is the power that you’ll have down the line. It’s incredible to see that what they’re doing, will be paid forward so dramatically and immediately.”