The California housing market makes paying rent on Academic Student Employees’ salaries untenable. Our members, like other low-wage workers throughout the state, face a crisis of unaffordable housing. Skyrocketing rents force student workers to live in cramped apartments, commute long distances, and live paycheck to paycheck. UAW 2865 is committed to fighting for housing justice and tenants rights for workers left behind by the construction of luxury apartments and the interests of real estate investment corporations. Along with dozens of other labor unions and community organizations across California, we’re a member of Housing Now!, a statewide coalition using direct action and legislative pressure to push for housing policies in the interests of the working class, low-income renters, vulnerable communities, and the unhoused.
What Campaigns Has UAW 2865 Endorsed?
In 2018, our membership endorsed and organized canvasses in support of Proposition 10, a California ballot measure which would have legalized the passage of new rent control measures across the state. Although Prop. 10 was defeated at the polls, the campaign marked the start of our union’s latest participation in the statewide fight for fair housing and tenants rights.
In January 2020, our membership voted to endorse the Rental Affordability Act, a proposition set to appear on the ballot in November that would allow cities and municipalities in California to expand rent control. It would also institute vacancy control measures, meaning that rents in controlled units can only be increased a certain amount between residents. Passage of this ballot measure would help keep millions of tenants in their homes and slow the pace of displacement and gentrification.
Housing Crisis and COVID-19
The current pandemic and ensuing economic recession have made existing housing inequities even more dire. Sudden and soaring unemployment has made it impossible for an estimated ⅓ of U.S. tenants to pay rent. As part of a statewide effort to to cancel rent and mortgage payments in California for the duration of the emergency, UAW 2865 has signed on to the Rent Strike Movement campaign, a coalition effort to organize tenants to go on rent strike to pressure Governor Newsom to take immediate action and grant renters relief. Sign the petition here to get involved.
What Rights and Protections Do I Have As a Tenant?
As the current crisis unfolds, UC campuses, cities, and counties across California have instituted numerous emergency housing measures and protections. We’ve compiled a info packet listing emergency housing and financial resources at UC campuses, eviction protections and other recent emergency laws, and tenant organizing resources. Find the COVID-19 Tenants Rights and Organizing Resources guide here.
What Can I Do?
In order to push the state to institute emergency housing protections and cancel rent payments, UAW 2865 members have been making phone calls and sending emails to Governor Newsom and their representatives in the U.S. Congress. Follow the instructions below to ask your representative to support the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act and demand that Governor Newsom take action and grant relief to California renters:
STEP 1: Make Phone Calls
Call U.S. Congress Members Representing your Campus and Home Address
Find Your Rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Find Phone Numbers Here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dBgWmHqpnoQ5TOBysCTvTfd9PwNElU2iDZS-QikLsyI/edit?usp=sharing
Call Script:
My name is (your name), and I am a student worker at (your campus) and a member of UAW 2865. I am also a constituent in (name of representative)’s district. I’m calling to urge Representative (x) to take action in this time of public health and economic emergency to keep California residents in our homes and out of debt. HR 6515, the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act, introduced last week by Rep. Omar, provides a clear solution: cancel rents for tenants and cancel mortgages for small landlords nationwide. Besides cancelling rent, the bill also establishes a relief fund for small landlords and mortgage holders to cover losses from cancelled rent payments. We need Rep (x) to act now by supporting this legislation, and if they already support the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act, we ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill.
Call Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office
916-445-2841
Call Script:
My name is (your name), I’m a student/worker at (your campus). I’m calling as a part of the Housing Now! coalition, asking you to take action in this time of public health and economic emergency to keep California residents in our homes and out of debt. Students and workers at the University of California, like so many across the state, are struggling to make rent amidst sudden unemployment and lost wages. We need you to act now by suspending rent and mortgage payments across the state.
ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED MAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM TO HELP US KEEP TRACK OF WHO WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT.
STEP 2: Send Emails
Email U.S. Congress Members Representing your Campus and Home Address
Find Your Rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Find Email Forms Here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dBgWmHqpnoQ5TOBysCTvTfd9PwNElU2iDZS-QikLsyI/edit?usp=sharing
Sample Email:
My name is (your name), and I am a student worker at (your campus) and a member of UAW 2865. I am also a constituent in (name of representative)’s district. I’m writing to urge Representative (x) to take action in this time of public health and economic emergency to keep California residents in our homes and out of debt. HR 6515, the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act, introduced last week by Rep. Omar, provides a clear solution: cancel rents for tenants and cancel mortgages for small landlords nationwide. Besides cancelling rent, the bill also establishes a relief fund for small landlords and mortgage holders to cover losses from cancelled rent payments. We need Rep (x) to act now by supporting this legislation, and if they already support the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act, we ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill.
Email Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office
https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
Sample Email:
My name is (your name), I’m a student/worker at (your campus). I’m emailing as a part of the Housing Now! coalition, asking you to take action in this time of public health and economic emergency to keep California residents in our homes and out of debt. Students and workers at the University of California, like so many across the state, are struggling to make rent amidst sudden unemployment and lost wages. We need you to act now by suspending rent and mortgage payments across the state.