News Update

University of California lecturers rally, seek increased job protections

Hundreds of University of California lecturers are rallying Monday as they seek a new contract and increased job protections.

In a statement, the University Council-AFT, which represents librarians and lecturers in the University of California, said it has been one year since the expiration of a union contract for those workers. 

In a press release, the UC-AFT noted that even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the average UC lecturer taught for fewer than two years and most were “pushed out of the university after just one year.” Between the 2019-20 academic year and the current academic year, more than 2,000 lecturers have been put out of work, according to the UC-AFT.

The organization said in the press release that “common sense evaluation and rehiring practices” should be adopted across the system.

“UC-AFT teaching faculty have gone above and beyond to ensure instructional continuity during COVID-19. It’s long past time to provide job continuity for faculty whose work UC admin has declared to be essential,” UCLA lecturer and UC-AFT President Mia L. McIver said in a statement.