Campus News
Bargaining Update (September 2025)
I am forwarding UC System Provost and Executive Vice President Katherine S. Newman’s most recent bargaining update, summaring the progress made in the August bargaining sessions.
Dear Colleagues,
In August, I shared with you a communication from UC System Provost and Executive Vice President Katherine S. Newman regarding ongoing negotiations between the University and the United Auto Workers (UAW) for the unified Academic Student Employees and Graduate Student Researchers bargaining unit.
For your convenience, I am forwarding Provost Newman’s most recent update, which summarizes the progress made in the August bargaining sessions and outlines upcoming negotiations.
Thank you for staying informed as these important discussions continue.
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul L. Koch
Interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
This letter is sent on behalf of UC System Provost and Executive Vice President Katherine S. Newman. For your convenience, the text of the letter is below. The signed letter is attached as a pdf.
ACADEMIC COUNCIL CHAIR AHMET PALAZOGLU
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLORS AND PROVOSTS
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing to you with my next promised update regarding ongoing negotiations between the University and the United Auto Workers (UAW) for the recently unified Academic Student Employees (ASE – TAs, AIs, Fellows, Readers, Tutors) and Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) bargaining unit that should be shared with all faculty.
During the two bargaining sessions held in August, the UAW presented nine proposals/ counterproposals addressing defined contribution and University retirement plans, discipline and dismissal, community safety, housing, parking and transit, personal time off, reasonable accommodation, transitional positions, and workspace and instructional support. The UAW proposed (1) increases in paid personal time off; (2) expansion and formalization of the transitional funding pilot program that was implemented last year; (3) increases in parking and transit benefits; (4) an annual housing survey for bargaining unit employees; (5) augmenting campus response to mental health crises; and (6) expanding retirement plan access.
In turn, the University presented eight proposals/counterproposals that relate to discipline and dismissal, immigration, non-discrimination, personal time off, reasonable accommodation, respectful work environment, union security, and workspace and instructional support. The University’s proposals/counterproposals related to expanding immigration protections, addressing job abandonment, and clarifying and aligning with systemwide policies. The University understands immigration is a key issue for the union, and the UC bargaining team worked closely with subject matter experts to meet the UAW where feasible on this counterproposal. In the non-discrimination and respectful work environment proposals, the University aims to align these provisions with University policy, including ensuring investigations are concluded before any arbitration hearings are conducted.
The University and UAW reached their first tentative agreement on workspace and instructional support. This positive movement underscores the constructive collaboration evident between both parties in these negotiations.
There will be three bargaining sessions in September. The bargaining team, including the two faculty members who are serving on it, is diligently reviewing the feasibility of UAW’s proposals in light of our overarching goal to reach a fair contract that furthers
UC’s education and research mission and that is consistent with our operational and financial constraints.
As always, thank you for your patience with the negotiations process and your continued contributions to our academic community. I look forward to finding common ground with
our union colleagues to reach a successful agreement that benefits the graduate student academic employees, the faculty, and the overall mission of University.
Best wishes,
Katherine S. Newman
UC System Provost and
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Public Policy