Four bargaining units of UAW — which represents nearly 50,000 student academic workers and researchers across the UC system — voted to strike Wednesday evening with 98% in favor to strike.

36,558 total votes were cast, making the vote “the largest and most decisive” strike authorization vote by academic workers in the history of the United States, according to a tweet from UAW 2865, which represents more than 19,000 teaching assistants, tutors and readers.

Voting began last week amid ongoing bargaining with the university. The vote permits the unit to strike as soon as Nov. 14 if the bargaining units reach a stalemate in negotiations.

“UC’s unlawful conduct is preventing us from reaching fair agreements that guarantee equity and dignified compensation,” alleged UAW 2865 President Rafael Jaime in a press release from BrightLine Communications.  “Extremely low compensation – many workers make less than $24,000 a year – is leaving workers severely rent burdened and struggling to remain in academia. UC’s failure to support a diverse workforce undermines the quality of research and education across the system.”

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