Union representing University of California lecturers votes to authorize strike

Lecturers at the University of California have voted to authorize a possible strike as they seek more pay and better job stability.

UC-AFT, the union representing non-tenured faculty across the system, said Tuesday that 96% of its members voted to authorize the strike. The vote does not mean that the union will immediately go on strike but does mean that members of the union’s negotiation team could now decide to call a strike if UC management doesn’t satisfy the union’s concerns in negotiations.

“This vote is a testament to our unity and strength,” UC-AFT organizer Caroline Luce said in a statement. “It serves as a collective expression of our hope that there remains a possibility for progress at the negotiating table.”

The union is advocating for lecturers to receive a 3% cost-of-living pay raise and also wants UC to renew the contracts of lecturers when they expire. UC-AFT President Mia McIver said in a statement Tuesday that “thousands of phenomenal lecturers lose their jobs each year.”

Although campuses are offering a summer session, the union said the strike “would not be called before the fall quarter and likely for no longer than a week.”