An in-depth look at wage increases the contract, and comparing to the previous one, responding to some of the criticisms Cost of living matters and is missing from the "yes" case One of the highest priorities members expressed in the bargaining survey at the beginning of the year was a supplement for housing. Management argued … Continue reading Real Talk on Real Wages
Looking at the numbers - of members, of wages, and of cost of living - the case for settling just doesn't add up. 1. Membership numbers and strike capacity Pro-settlement arguments have invoked the idea that we would only be able to do a "super-minority strike". This is based on a misleading way of assessing … Continue reading How to build a credible strike threat in three easy charts
1) Management has offered a 3%-per-year wage increase, which actually represents a wage cut when accounting for current and expected inflation in California. Furthermore, the meager campus fee remission offered is already waived for many students, and doesn’t go nearly far enough to address all of the extra tuition and fees for international, professional, and … Continue reading Why Vote No?
by Mattie Armstrong-Price I am a former UCB graduate student, and was on the bargaining team during the 2013/14 contract campaign. While the question of whether to accept the current contract proposal as-is, or to send the bargaining team back to the table and build for a strike this fall is a question that can … Continue reading Six reasons for members to scrutinize, and possibly reject, the proposed contract