University Professional & Technical Employees is a member-led union of 20k workers at the University of California, DOE nat’l labs, & CA community colleges.
We use every minute UC wastes at the bargaining table to get more organized. We don't want to strike, but we must be prepared for what may come as UC continues to drag its feet at the bargaining table.
Check out our latest dispatch from negotiations
#endlessunionsummer
#union
We are proud to endorse
@BernieSanders
: the only presidential candidate we trust to fight for our working-class members -- because he always has. Only Bernie will rebuild America's middle class by prioritizing workers rights with better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
We've been proud to endorse Sen. Sanders and heartened by his leadership in this crisis. He's demanded emergency measures to provide medical supplies, called for cash relief to workers, and reminded us that
#MedicareForAll
will reduce the risk of pandemics. Tune in!
#M4A
#1u
Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, join us for a roundtable on the coronavirus crisis. I'll be joined by our campaign Health Policy Chair Rep.
@PramilaJayapal
and health professionals, featuring music by
@SarahLeeGuthrie
. Tune in at .
At UCLA today, Bernie Sanders blasted the University of California for acting like a “corporate-type employer."
“What we are seeing all across this country is a war being waged against working people in America"
As fellow union members, it is our responsibility to stand in solidarity with our striking
@uaw_4811
colleagues.
We call on UPTE members to turn down any voluntary requests to perform struck UAW work and report any UAW work you are told to perform to an UPTE representative.
🚀 Today is the day to be part of something bigger. It's about your future, your craft and your rights. Join a
#SagAftraStrike
picket line or find an event near you at and let’s fight for a fair deal. The time is now! 💥🌠
#SagAftraStrong
We proudly stood with our union siblings today to protest UC's retaliation against UAW members. We deserve better than a public employer who feels entitled to make such a shameful attack on the first amendment and the labor rights of their employees
@uaw2865
@UAW5810
There are powerful forces trying to stop Bernie’s movement. We call on our union sisters & brothers across the country to stand up and fight. Post a video supporting Bernie w/hashtag
#LaborForBernie
#NotMeUS
#UCfortheMany
#Bernie2020
Here's one from UTLA!
All UPTE members will be on strike for 24 hours, beginning at 4am on March 20th. UPTE Research and Technical (RX/TX) members are striking for a fair contract and Healthcare (HX) members will be striking in solidarity!
"Research and technology drive UC's greatness and the short-sighted attempt by UC executives to undermine and outsource career work will be felt by students, patients and the public at large."
🚨UC optometrists to go on unfair labor practice strike Feb 6-7. Enough is enough. Support the strike on the picket lines at Davis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego UC health centers. Link to RSVP for details in the bio.
#OptomStrike
#UnionStrong
#union
👀
UPTE does not condone UC’s treatment of graduate students across the system nor the firing of the Santa Cruz students for standing up & demanding the University address the rampant housing crisis.
UPTE demands the University meet with UAW 2865 and work towards a solution today!
On October 23rd, 24th, and 25th, UPTE will be striking in solidarity with AFSCME 3299's Patient Care Technical workers. This is our chance to show that we are more committed than ever to win a UC for all workers; a UC for the many, not the few!
#UCforthemany
#strike4equality
#1u
Not afraid of a little rain, and not afraid of
@UofCalifornia
's unfair labor practices.
Day two and we're still going strong on the ULP picket lines 💪💪💪
#strike
#1u
We packed the table & rallied at UCLA this week to support our work/life balance proposals ✊
No patient wants an understaffed healthcare team. Overworked researchers can be more prone to errors/ oversight. Turnover can disrupt UC's technical infrastructure. UC can do better
#1u
.
@UofCalifornia
is a world-class institution because of our world-class work.
When
@UCSF
refused to release one of our bargaining team members from work to attend negotiations, we not only filed a grievance—we marched together as a group to deliver that grievance in person
#1u
Contracts ratified! Members voted for the past two weeks in record numbers and approved the tentative agreements by 96% overall for TX/RX/HX workers. Five strikes and countless actions have brought us to this point. See more at and get involved today!
🌧️🪧☀️ Rain or shine, we stand with our
@capsscientists
brothers and sisters in their fight for a fair contract. Our state scientists deserve better!
#DefianceforScience
Strong contracts aren't won by expert negotiators alone. They're won when we unite to show
@uofcalifornia
that the 18k members of our union are ready to fight for our patients, our students, and our research.
Today, we did just that by rallying and packing the bargaining table
UC is trying to GHOST 17,000 UC employees by refusing to recognize their union. Let’s join up to support
@sruuaw
’s statewide action this Thursday and show
@UofCalifornia
that we stand together. Details →
On our way to present our second batch of work/life proposals today in negotiations with
@UofCalifornia
😎
Why is work/life balance important? It prevents burnout, promotes retention, and ensures we are well-rested when working on behalf of our patients, students, and research.
While UPTE is prohibited from calling a sympathy strike, we encourage you to attend rallies and picket lines before and after work and during break periods.
Patients pay the price for short-staffing in the
@UCIrvineHealth
rehabilitation department. Delays in care mean delays in recovery, and staff burnout & turnover impact services. We deserve better
#UnionStrong
#union
“We love our patients. But it just feels like this strike is the only option that we have left. UC has not really bargained in good faith. They are not taking it seriously.”
Optometrists are officially on ULP
#strike
at the
@UofCalifornia
#optomstrike
UPTE members from UCLA campus stand in solidarity with Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants who are bargaining a contract for over 3 years now. They continue to be 20% underpaid and are fighting back. We stand in solidarity with
@afa_cwa
Council 43 & 47!
After more than a year and a half of preparation, UPTE's negotiating team of healthcare, research, and technical members is heading to the bargaining table with
@uofcalifornia
to fight for fair pay, safe staffing, career progression, professional development, and more ✊
"As
@uaw_4811
members move towards a strike authorization vote, know that you have the full support of your Region 6 siblings across the West Coast, and your UAW siblings across the continent"
-Region 6 Director Mike Miller
Read the full statement👇
All students deserve access to timely, well-staffed
#mentalhealth
services no matter where they take classes. Thank you to
@_UCSA
for standing with behavioral health counselors and psychiatric professionals by calling on the
@UofCalifornia
to invest in these crucial services.
Today at UC Davis, we were joined by our own International President, head of the 700,000-strong CWA, Chris Shelton. He delivered an inspiring message of solidarity - this is the time to fight back!
#UCforthemany
#UPTEsolidarity
#strike4equality
Optometrists at
@UofCalifornia
are on ULP strike across the state today, with picket lines in San Francisco, Davis, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
It's been over a year of bargaining, but UC's unwillingness to negotiate in good faith has made this strike inevitable
#1u
#optomstrike
UPTE was proud to walk the picket line with
@unitehere11
at the Fairmont Santa Monica on Saturday. These workers help make LA run yet many must hold down multiple jobs or commute from hours away. They deserve fair wages, healthcare, retirement & respect ✊
#union
#strike
Yesterday, UC President Napolitano announced salary freezes for "policy-covered" staff. Who's "policy-covered?" That means workers who haven't yet won the benefits of a union contract. UPTE members fought for and won a strong contract with guaranteed raises, including in July. 1/
UPTE members stand in solidarity with our union siblings from
@uaw2865
.
Shame on UCSD for choosing to illegally curtail workers’ right to protest rather than abide by the contracts they've negotiated with their workers.
Please show your support:
Since we signed our union contracts with the UC last fall, they have continually and systemically undermined them by arbitrarily under-appointing workers, circumventing agreed-upon wage increases, cutting teaching/research positions, and retaliating against striking workers. 🧵
Optometrists across the
@UofCalifornia
spent their lunch break preparing picket signs for our ULP strike next week.
UC’s bad-faith bargaining harms not only optometrists but patients, too. Enough is enough ✊
Learn how to join us at
#strike
#union
#1u
The number of UC students seeking mental health care rose 78% from 2007 - 2018. Student enrollment for the same period increased by only 27%.
We need an investment in these life-saving services. Students and workers deserve it & UC can afford it. Sign on:
🧵After the historic Stand Up Strike, UAW members at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis have voted to ratify their new contracts, locking in record gains at the Big Three automakers. Across the three companies, 64% of voting members voted in favor of the agreements.
We're inspired by this powerful message of student solidarity by
@SAbdeshahian
in the
@dailycal
. At UC, workers are the backbone and students are the conscience -- two attributes this institution needs more of!
UC Workers are the backbone of the
@UofCalifornia
. Now more than ever, we, the UC Students, must be in solidarity with the folks who run this University.
Read more about the campus labor justice demands in my
@dailycal
Op-Ed:
UPTE members lining up to let the UC Regents know that we won’t stop fighting until we get a fair contract that protects and respects education, patient care, and research!
#UCfortheMany
Major statewide action taking place tomorrow to finalize contract that will preserve quality research, education and healthcare at the
@UofCalifornia
. Come support our fight for a quality and affordable university system in CA at campuses listed below!
@ShannaNBCLA
@CBSLA
@KTLA
"I came to work at UC because I believed this system was a force for good to push society forward. But having experienced — firsthand — the UC’s disregard for the economic struggles it creates within its own community, I no longer believe this."
Workers at
@Scripps_Ocean
help us better understand our oceans & our climate. Last week, we marched on our boss demanding changes that would fairly & equitably compensate people for their time at sea and make sure no one goes months without a day off
#unionstrong
🌊🌍
Tell UCLA's Chancellor to rescind the dozen layoffs in the department of Theater, Film and Television! Already the cuts are causing delays and harming student services. These cuts follow UCLA surpassing its 2019 fundraising goals, raising $5+ Billion.
Our union coalition at
@UofCalifornia
is streaming a press conference on a responsible financial solutions to the crisis that the pandemic has created. We can, and must, put people first in overcoming this national emergency. Watch
@AFSCMELocal3299
at 10 AM Pacific for video!
64% of college dropouts directly associate their departure with mental health concerns. UC must support & retain the behavioral health workers that students rely on. Join our April 26 town hall to learn what we're doing to address this crisis:
.
@UofCalifornia
is world-class because of world-class workers. So what have they done in our first month of negotiations to recognize that?
Watch our first dispatch from negotiations to learn more
#1u
#union
Imagine working for a UC that respects your personal time, with improved rights to remote work, hybrid schedules, or even a shorter workweek.
Imagine being more present for other things in life, and better managing your physical and mental health
#union
#1u
It was standing room only in bargaining today as hundreds of UCLA members showed up to pack the table and give testimony at lunchtime about the importance of our work/life balance proposals.
After, we didn't let a little LA heat stop us from rallying in the courtyard!
#union
#1u
UPTE members across California: today is your day to vote and the polls are open! We voted to endorse
@BernieSanders
by 66%.
Your UPTE contract guarantees you two hours of paid time to vote if you are working a full shift.
#1u
#M4A
#BernieBeatsTrump
We found UC’s latest "bargaining update" to be more than a little misleading and confusing - so we took the liberty of making some changes to reflect what’s really going on
Why did UC nurses win raises that are more than twice what has been offered to UPTE members, along with other important contract victories?
The power and unity that they have shown and their willingness to strike at UC and other employers.
Demand for mental health care is skyrocketing.
@UofCalifornia
must take adequate steps to recruit & retain the Behavioral Health Psychiatric Professionals & Behavioral Health Counselors who support UC students and patients in their most vulnerable moments
#mentalhealth
#1u
DSA-LA is proud to stand in solidarity with optometrists striking back against unfair labor practices at UCLA.
Look out, management. We’ve got our eyes on you. 👀
We did it! Our union siblings from
@afscme3299
&
@CalNurses
have won election to the UC Retirement System Advisory Board, ensuring that we'll continue to have strong advocates who will fight to protect our hard-won pension and retiree health benefits.
We rallied once again with our fellow workers across the UC system to tell the Chancellors, Regents, and CEOs that now is not the time for austerity at our university. No cuts! No layoffs! UC can't run without those who do the work!
#solidarity
#1u
We're just 4 days away from our strike against UC's illegal outsourcing!
We need everyone on the picket line* rain or shine! Make plans with your co-workers to be there together and sign up for a picket shift today!
*Some locations have changed
I mean seriously
@UofCalifornia
, y’all do realize that we are the people who know better than anyone what it takes to make this a world-class university, right?
Maybe a little sense of urgency?
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to close out the second and final day of our optometrist ULP strike at UC—labor allies, community supporters, and elected officials 💪
Last week
@UCSF
social workers, who serve the most marginalized in SF, marched on the boss to call them out for not investing in services & staff.
Mgmt refused to meet with us. We were met with security & campus police. UCSF owes workers & SF's residents far better
#union
#ucsf
Despite repeated calls from clinicians,
@uofcalifornia
refuses to take adequate steps to recruit and retain the Behavioral Health Psychiatric Professionals and Behavioral Health Counselors who support UC students and patients in their most vulnerable moments
#MentalHealth
“It takes at least 6 months to really be fully trained on this job, so when you have a quarter of the department just started in the past 6 months, that’s a huge issue.”
@UCSDHealth
, it's time to end employee misclassification. Patients deserve better.
During🦠
#COVID19
, emergency paid leave prevented about 400 COVID-19 cases/ day & moved us towards a safe reopening.
#SB616
is the permanent solution we need.
#PaidSickLeave
#SB616NOW
400 UPTE members work in performing arts & entertainment facilities on our
@UofCalifornia
campuses. Many have lost their work entirely due to the impact of
#COVID19
. Sign the petition to demand relief from congress for displaced entertainment workers!
#1u
Flexwork works where it works!
@UCLA
campus knows it!
@UCLAHealth
should adopt it also, where it works for their employees!
Workers at UCLA Health showed up today to present a remote work petition to the CEO signed by 250 member supporters!
Every UPTE member plays a crucial role in making UC a leader in patient care, research, and education. We're standing together to win fair pay and career progression in our next contract because a career at UC should reward our valuable work in the public interest 💪
Another powerful rally today at
@UCSF
Parnassuss ✊
We rallied & heard moving testimonials about the importance of this contract to our members and the communities we serve—and made sure
@UofCalifornia
knows that we're ready to fight if that's what it takes
#1u
#union
Kelsey Zorn, a Clinical Research Coordinator and patient at UCSF, explains why protecting affordable healthcare is such an important part of our fight for a fair contract.
"I can't believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, how they're losing money left & right, while giving hundreds of millions of $$$ to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them."
Sound familiar to anyone?
UC has asked UPTE to come back to the table for additional Healthcare Professionals (HX) negotiations on June 6th and Research (RX) and Technical (TX) Professionals negotiations on June 17 and 18th!