Dealing with post-strike retaliation?
In an attempt to intimidate workers and prevent us from taking future collective labor action, the UC is retaliating against workers in our union for engaging in protected strike activity. This retaliation is coming in the form of wage theft, threatening written warning letters, and notices of intent to fire workers. If you’re facing retaliation of any kind, fill out this form. Check out this FAQ if you have questions about this repression.
Hands off Summer Sullivan! Defend UCSC grad fired for participating in a legal strike
In Spring 2024, thousands of graduate workers at the University of California walked off the job in response to the UC’s brutal and illegal repression of Palestine solidarity protests. UCOP (University of California Office of the President) sent Summer Sullivan a Notice of Intent to Dismiss on August 5, claiming that she had participated in an “unlawful strike” beginning on May 21. However, on May 23 the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) denied the University’s injunction and declared that the strike was not unlawful. PERB reaffirmed this decision on June 4th and issued a complaint against the UC for discrimination, arbitrary changing of policies, and discouraging labor organizing.
Despite PERB having sole authority in determining the legality of strikes in California, the UC shopped for an Orange County judge to circumvent them. Nevertheless, Summer complied with UCOP’s demand to return to work. The letter from the UCOP falsely states that Summer did not return to work after the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on June 8. A letter from her work supervisor, emails from her students, as well as a detailed schedule showing how she spent her hours were all sent to the University as evidence that Summer did return to work after the TRO.
This firing attempt is not only clearly targeted retaliation, but also crystal-clear malpractice: UC has no evidence, is ignoring the demands of the majority of Summer’s department, and has blown past many disciplinary deadlines by a margin of months. Summer is the only UC graduate worker to receive a final notice of termination.
The University is unfairly and unreasonably disciplining Summer Sullivan, who is a great asset to our community. Their allegations are both factually incorrect and spiteful and vindictive in nature, clearly designed to punish and discourage future political speech. We stand by her and demand the University drop disciplinary action against Summer Sullivan.
Sign HERE to demand that the University of California, Santa Cruz; UC Office of the President; and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer drop their attempt to fire Summer Sullivan for participating in a legal, union-sanctioned strike in Spring 2024. These actions are part of a larger pattern of retaliation against organized labor and repression of political speech by the University.
Info about our 2024 Strike
On Monday, May 20th, UC Santa Cruz, “UC’s most striking campus,” was the first to “stand up” in UAW 4811’s ULP strike. We walk out knowing the heat is concentrated on us, expecting admin to be more aggressive than in 2022, while also knowing there is a tidal wave of support behind us.
The week before, thousands of graduate and academic workers at the University of California voted to strike their work in defense of the right to protest in support of the people of Gaza and Palestine. The strike vote came after police and Zionist groups attacked pro-Palestinian protests and encampments at campuses in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Irvine.
It also followed a walk out at UC Santa Cruz on international workers day, heeding the call for solidarity strikes. This call came from the Gaza Branch of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, in coordination with the group, Workers in Palestine.
The striking workers are demanding: Divestment from companies profiting from the occupation, including weapons manufacturers and military contractors benefiting from the war on Gaza; Disclosure of all investments and provision of alternative funding for workers seeking to leave positions funded by sources complicit in the war on Gaza, such as the US Department of Defense; Full amnesty for all students and workers and the absolute guarantee of their rights to freedom of expression and collective protest.
We, academic workers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, understand that this genocide is a war on the Palestinian people and Palestinian workers—academic workers among them. We know that our strike appears rather insignificant in the context of the horrific massacres. But we hope the echo of our voice reaches the labor movement throughout the world, and pushes our comrades elsewhere towards material action.
Solidarity from us to Gaza, Palestine and its people. We draw our strength from your strength, our resolve from your resolve, our integrity from your integrity.
