“Today we stand 100% in solidarity with those who were terminated at Santa Cruz,” said Kavitha Iyengar, President of UAW Local 2865, the union that represents more than 19,000 academic workers across the University of California system, including those who were fired. “We are shocked by UC’s callousness, and by the violence that so many protesters experienced as they peacefully made the case for a cost of living increase. Instead of firing TAs who are standing up for a decent standard of living for themselves, UC must sit down at the bargaining table and negotiate a cost of living increase.

“But UC’s decision does not deter thousands of academic workers across the state who will continue to fight to reduce their rent burden. The union will keep demanding that UC come to the table and bargain to provide a cost of living adjustment for 19,000 ASEs. And we will keep organizing, keep holding actions, and keep speaking up until all of us are paid fairly for our work.”


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