Unions

The Universities of California unions are part of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). The UAW has historically been one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America. In recent decades, more than 80,000 workers in higher education have joined the UAW. Having the same union represent student-workers, Postdocs, and ARs at UC builds power and allows our union to draw on years of UAW experience in representing UC employees. Each group of UAW members has won increases in pay, benefits and workplace rights.

Through the UAW and its national clout, the unions have won important protections and rights for international workers, and has been a leader in the struggle to secure economic and social justice for all people including active involvement in the struggles for civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ equality, workplace safety, environmental protections, and many more.

UAW 5810 - Post Docs and Academic Researchers Union

What is the Union of Postdocs and Academic Researchers, UAW Local 5810?

UAW Local 5810 is the union of more than 11,000 Postdoctoral Scholars and Academic Researchers (Project Scientists, Specialists, Professional Researchers, and Coordinators of Public Programs) at all 10 campuses of the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Through our union, Postdocs and ARs negotiate collective bargaining agreements that set minimum standards for pay, benefits, rights, and protections. Postdocs and Academic Researchers run all aspects of the union including serving as members of the bargaining team, elected statewide and campus officers, and volunteer activists.

What is collective bargaining and how is it different from what we had before?

Collective bargaining is a process, recognized and protected by state law, that equalizes the power relationship between employees and their employer. Under collective bargaining, Postdocs and Academic Researchers elect representatives from amongst their peers to negotiate as equals with the UC administration. The result of negotiations is a contract that determines terms and conditions of employment. Through collective bargaining, academic worker unions have successfully negotiated improvements in wages, benefits, job security, leaves, and many other terms and conditions of employment.

Without collective bargaining, UC has unilateral power to change conditions or decide whether to make improvements. For example, before Postdocs and ARs unionized, UC administration decided unilaterally whether to provide salary adjustments to keep up with the high cost of living in California, unilaterally weakened the AR retirement plan, changed the criteria for placement in various job titles, and eliminated some bridge funding programs.