June 17, 2021
The process of winning recognition of our union – after which we will be able to bargain with UC – took another step forward last night. Late last night, UC furnished a partial list of GSRs and GSARs in the central payroll system to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Missing from this list are Trainees, Fellows, and all Student Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, because, according to UC, they are not in the central payroll system. UC asked for an additional 28 days to complete the list with the missing information.
PERB will use this list to verify a majority of SRs have shown support for SRU-UAW by signing a union authorization card. Once the complete list is furnished the actual counting process could go as quickly as a week or two, after which UC should swiftly recognize SRU-UAW, and begin negotiating a contract with SRs.
The request for an extension is not surprising, but it is disappointing that UC wants to delay the count by nearly a month beyond the initial 20 day deadline. However, the delay gives SRs additional time to continue talking with our colleagues and to collect more authorization cards. The larger the majority support, the stronger SRs will be in negotiating a first contract.
In the meantime, check-out this op-ed by an SR at UC San Diego explaining why UC should quickly recognize SRU once the count is completed!
In Solidarity,
Nora Harhen
Department of Cognitive Sciences
UC Irvine