Crystal Chang Cohen

Although Fang Xu, a long-time lecturer and researcher in the Interdisciplinary Studies Field at UC Berkeley, possesses extensive academic achievements and credentials, she is unable to spearhead her own research projects.

After more than two years of bargaining, striking and organizing, a tentative agreement between UC-AFT, a union representing university lecturers, and the UC Office of the President, or UCOP, was reached early Wednesday morning. 

UC-AFT has called on UCOP to provide an updated contract to lecturers that will ensure job stability and improved compensation.

The University Council-American Federation of Teachers, or UC-AFT, voted to authorize a potential strike for increased job security and pay for UC lecturers June 2. 

University Council-American Federation of Teachers, or UC-AFT, a union representing UC lecturers and librarians, hosted a caravan rally Monday to welcome UC President Michael Drake in hopes of pushing him to support UC lecturers in ongoing contract negotiations with the university.

As university services move online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UC labor bargaining has also moved to teleconference.

On Friday, campus junior Eliza Davis posted a Google form on Facebook to raise awareness for UC lecturers’ working conditions, as well as to garner student support. 

On Wednesday, about 100 people gathered on Upper Sproul Plaza for a University Council-American Federation of Teachers, or UC-AFT, rally to campaign for job security and a living wage.