• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

UC teaching assistants, seen here protesting last month, will go on strike in December. Any last

Some courses may be cancelled during 10th week – only days before finals begin – as teaching assistants participate in a second strike against the university this quarter due to alleged continuing unfair labor practices.

The strike, organized by the United Auto Workers, which represents over 11,000 teaching assistants, readers and tutors at the eight University of California undergraduate campuses, is scheduled to occur Dec. 1 to Dec. 5.

The UC believes that it has been working closely with the UAW to reach a fair agreement and that allegations of unfair labor practices are misleading.

According to a UAW statement, the UC has failed to address 64 previously filed unfair labor practices, in addition to continuing to commit them. The alleged practices include surface bargaining, the act of passing proposals back and forth without making real changes, and shifting justifications by the university.

The UAW filed these same unfair labor practice charges against the university and participated in a one-day strike on Oct. 3 – prompting the cancellation of several class sections – to exhibit their anger against what they believe were injustices committed by the university.

The UAW and the UC tried to reach a settlement in a voluntary pre-impasse mediation meeting in November.

Union officials also said in a statement that the UC withdrew several proposals it had previously made to the UAW several days preceding the mediation.

Though the strike falls a week before finals – a crucial time for most students – the UAW believes the strike is a necessary action.

On Tuesday, the UC released a statement addressing their response to the union’s decision.

“All UC campuses have contingency plans in place to deal with strikes and ... ensure that instructional activities ... will continue with as little disruption as possible,” the statement said.

Though the UAW has filed unfair labor practice charges, it does not validate the actions the UAW is taking, the statement also stated.

‘The mere filing of (unfair labor practices) does not represent actual wrongdoing or provide a legal justification for striking,” the statement said.

Other UC unions, such as the Coalition of University Employees and the University Professional and Technical Employees, support the upcoming strike.

“It’s time for the administration to live up to its legal obligations and respect the rights of its workers and their unions,” said Claudia Horning, president of CUE, in a statement.

On Tuesday, most TAs on campus had just gotten word of the union’s decision and were unsure whether they will participate in the strike.

If a strike were to take place, Professor Michael North of the English department said he would have to cancel all six of his discussion sections.

Barney Schlinger, vice chairman of the physiological sciences department, noted that communication between professors and TAs would be helpful in such an event.

“I hope TAs will be responsible enough to let professors know if they are going to walk out so instructors can act accordingly,” he said.

Some students are supportive of the UAW’s decision, while others are concerned about their classes.

“They are going on a strike for a good reason. ... I don’t want TAs to continue working on bad conditions just for my sake,” said Elizabeth Hakamssom, a Swedish exchange student.

Anne Villacete, a second-year pre-business economics student, was shocked at the decision.

“Before finals, we need our TAs and office hours. ... This is going to be bad,” she said.