Tentative agreement reached to give UC researchers higher wages amid strike

University of California postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers have reached a tentative labor deal that union officials said Tuesday includes higher wages and cost-of-living increases, but they won't yet return to work in solidarity with some 36,000 graduate student workers who remain on strike.

"We are proud to have reached agreements that address the soaring cost of living, and reflect the value of our contributions at UC," Neal Sweeney, president of UAW Local 5810, said in a statement.

"These agreements represent a new, best-in-class model that will improve quality of life -- and the quality of research -- for scientists across the U.S. It is now time for UC to make serious proposals to Academic Student Employees and Student Researchers and to reach fair agreements that recognize the contributions these workers make."

About 48,000 unionized academic workers across UC's 10 campuses -- who perform much of the teaching and research at the higher education system -- walked off the job Nov. 14, calling for better pay and benefits. Roughly 12,000 of those workers are postdoctoral employees and academic researchers.

"I love what I do but passion does not pay the bills," said Omer Sohail, a UCLA grad student and employed student researcher at the UCLA Labor Center.

"I work two jobs to make ends meet," he told CBSLA Tuesday. "As a master's degree student my tuition isn't even fully covered by fee remission, so I'm literally paying to work at the UC." 

Fellow student employees including tutors, graduate student teachers and teaching assistants have yet to get a deal.

"I have a Sociology teaching assistant and an African American Studies teaching assistant and both of those teachers have been missing," said Dylan Davis, a UCLA student. 

In a statement, UC officials said they were pleased an agreement had been reached.

"Our dedicated colleagues are vital to UC's research activities and we are very pleased to have reached agreements that honor their many important contributions," Letitia Silas, executive director of systemwide labor relations at UC, said in a statement.

"These agreements also uphold our tradition of supporting these employees with compensation and benefits packages that are among the best in the country."

Details of the ratification process will be announced soon. Once ratified, the new contracts will be effective through Sept. 30, 2027, according to the UC.

According to the union and UC, the tentative agreement for postdoctoral scholars includes:

• a 20-23% salary increase (up to $12,000) by October 2023; while over the course of five years, the lowest paid postdoctoral worker would receive a 57% salary increase;
• up to $2,500 annual reimbursement for child care expenses with flexibility to use the funds for child care expenses related to professional travel;
• annual $100 child care increases in 2024, 2025 and 2026;
• two-year initial appointments (up from one year) followed by one- year reappointments; and
• effective Jan. 1, a new special Postdoc Paid Leave program of eight weeks of 100% paid family leave for all postdoctoral workers.

For academic researchers, contract highlights include:

• pay increases of 4.5% in the first year, 3.5% in the second, third and fourth years; and 4% in the fifth year;
• all reappointments no longer have exceptions for less than minimum length;
• effective Jan. 1, eight weeks 100% pay for family care and bonding for eligible academic researchers;
• increased bereavement leave; and
• a new provision to address abusive conduct and provide a dispute resolution process.

Union officials said the postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers will remain on strike pending a ratification vote and in solidarity with the student employees and researchers. Union officials said the UC has not yet responded to a compensation proposal made on behalf of those workers nearly two weeks ago.