SR unionization timeline:

On May 24th, 2021, Student Researchers from all 10 UC Campuses and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab filed a Recognition Petition with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), requesting Union recognition for Fellows, Trainees, and Graduate Student Researchers at UC — a supermajority of whom had signed Union Authorization Cards.. A copy of the Representation Petition can be found here, and you can see hundreds of Student Researchers coming together from across the state to drop of the petition here.

On June 16th, weeks after being notified of SRU-UAW’s recognition petition, the University requested 30 additional days to produce a complete list of Student Researchers in all of the petitioned-for job titles.

After careful review of over 12,000 Authorization Cards, PERB verified on August 4th, 2021 that a majority of Student Researchers had indeed signed authorization cards in support of forming a Union as SRU-UAW. The employer was given 15 days to either recognize or deny recognition to the Union. PERB’s verification can be found here. 

Immediately upon receiving PERB’s verification, Student Researchers on every campus sent letters to Campus and Systemwide administrators urging the University to begin bargaining as soon as possible. A copy of each of the campus letters can be found here.

On August 11th, a week after receiving PERB’s verification, the University requested a 30 day extension to respond to the recognition petition. PERB granted the University 14 additional days after they showed cause for their extension. 

On August 25th, hundreds of Student Researchers at all 10 UC campuses and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab gathered together to demand recognition for all Student Researchers and to urge the University to begin bargaining. Their message: “Time’s up UC, Recognize our Victory”. You can see a video of their actions here. 

The University ultimately denied recognition to SRU-UAW on September 2, 2021. In their denial, the University argues that Student Researchers funded by Fellowships and Training Grants are not employees and do not share a community of interest with other Student Researchers. Their denial of recognition can be found here.

On September 8th, PERB clarified that UC was not allowed to partially recognize a unit, and that the Agency was treating the University’s September 2nd response as a Denial of Recognition. 

Later that same day, SRU-UAW filed its response to the University’s Denial of Recognition, Requesting a Board Investigation. In its response, the Union describes the ways in which all of the petitioned-for Student Researchers do the same work, in the same labs, under the same supervision, from the same funding sources, and should enjoy the same rights and work. 

Upon reviewing both parties’ papers, PERB sent a Investigative Information Request to the Union on September 17th. 

SRU-UAW provided the information requested by PERB on September 30th, 2021. The information substantiates the Union’s September 8th arguments: that all the petitioned-for Student Researchers do the same research and deserve the same rights. You can see a response explicating the history of SR bargaining rights and research funding here.

On October 11th, PERB asked UC to Respond to SRU-UAW’s Information Response. PERB told UC that it has had plenty of time to prepare information, and that they must substantiate their response with facts. 

In response, UC filed papers wherein they re-argue that Fellows and Trainees are students, not employees, and do not share a community of interest with other Student Researchers. This is the same argument they’ve been making since the 90s, and most recently since SRU-UAW filed is petition for recognition.

On October 21, UC filed its response (link), redoubling its efforts to divide the bargaining unit.

On October 28, thousands of SRs rallied across every UC campus, demanding an end to UC’s refusal to recognize our union. Watch the recap video.

On November 18, 49 members of California’s State Assembly and Senate, led by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-East Bay), sent a letter to UC President Michael Drake asking him to drop the university’s baseless objections and recognize Student Researchers United-UAW.

Strike Authorization Vote results were tallied on November 20. 10,622 Student Researchers voted to authorize a strike. A total of 10,890 SRs voted, with 97.54% voting yes.

On November 23, UC President Michael Drake responded to the letter sent to him by 49 members of the California legislature in support of SRU-UAW. He reiterated the same false arguments about trainees and fellows.

On December 8, 2021, We won our union! SRU-UAW is officially recognized by UC! Read the recognition agreement here.