ABOUT UAW 4811
UAW Local 4811 represents 48,000 workers at the University of California.
WHO WE ARE
For nearly 3 decades, UAW 4811 has been fighting to make the University of California a better place to work, teach, and research for the public good. By negotiating contracts, enforcing our rights, and organizing in and out of our workplaces, we’ve leveraged our collective power to fight for — and win — economic and social justice at the UC and beyond.
WHAT WE DO
From bargaining collectively to enforcing our contracts to participating in broader social movements, our union helps us build a UC for all. Together, we collectively bargain for better working conditions and work together for a workplace free from racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression.
BY MEMBERS, FOR MEMBERS
UAW 4811 members run all aspects of our union, including organizing our colleagues, helping file grievances, serving as members of the bargaining team, and serving in elected leadership. We believe in a worker-led, democratic union run by members, for members.
2000
Graduate students unionize with UAW local 2865, agree to a first contract after decades of student workers fighting for a union and better working conditions.
2010
Postdocs at UC agree to a first contract with UC and form UAW 5810, the first union for Postdocs in the country
MILESTONES
2018
Academic Researchers at UC bargain first contract and join UAW 5810.
Workers organize to pass legislation recognizing Student Researchers as official employees at UC
2021
Student Researchers gain recognition from UC, begin to bargain first contract
2022
36,000 Academic Student Employees go on strike alongside 12,000 Academic Researchers and Postdocs in the largest-ever higher education strike in the United States.
2024
After 17,000 Student Researchers joined UAW 2865, the graduate local and UAW 5810 vote to amalgamate, becoming UAW 4811