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by\u00a0B\u00e9atrice Valli\u00e8res<\/a><\/strong> March 12, 2026 (MissionLocal.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/newspack-missionlocal.s3.amazonaws.com\/mission\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2563-780x520.jpg\")
From cancelling<\/a> a federal student loan repayment program to attempting to cut<\/a> diversity programs, the Trump administration\u2019s attacks against higher education have thrown universities into uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Workers at the University of California have found what they think might be a solution: unionize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On Wednesday, workers in communications, marketing and sales at the University of California, representing 2,000 people statewide and 200 in San Francisco, voted at an 82-percent clip to form a new union with United Auto Workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want the latest on the Mission and San Francisco? Sign up for our free daily newsletter<\/strong> below.Sign up<\/p>\n\n\n\n It marked the third time in recent months that UC workers formed a new union with UAW. Student services and advising professionals unionized in April, and research professionals followed suit in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In total, that represents 12,000 new union members working for the University of California system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of exciting energy in the labor movement right now, and especially at UC,\u201d said Rebecca Griffin, a member of the new communication workers union\u2019s organizing committee and communications director at UCSF\u2019s Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The creation of the Communications, Marketing, and Sales Professionals Union (CoMaS) brings the total number of UC workers represented by UAW to more than 60,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At UCSF\u2014one of the city\u2019s largest employers, with 39,000 employees according to UC data<\/a>\u2014about 1,600 workers have joined one of three new unions in the past 12 months, according to union estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three unions have similar demands: higher wages, increased job security, protections for international workers and more flexible work arrangements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More than that, union leaders say this is also a way to defend their workers as attacks coming from the federal government have meant budget cuts, layoffs and hiring freezes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re realizing that, by forming a union like this, we now have a platform to protect the important work that we do that we care so much about,\u201d said Eve Perry, a data scientist at UCSF and member of the Research and Public Service Professionals bargaining team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In March last year, faced with financial uncertainty due to proposed federal budget cuts, UC implemented a systemwide hiring freeze<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In July, the Trump administration attempted to pull $584 million in federal funds to UCLA<\/a> over the university\u2019s supposed failure to fight antisemitism on campus. In exchange for releasing those funds, the federal government later demanded<\/a> a $1.2 billion settlement from the University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most recently, four<\/a> public health programs within UCSF have faced cuts due to the government\u2019s plans to undo $600 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UC\u2019s unions have been fighting back. In September, UAW successfully filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the $1.2 billion fine. The university system did not join the lawsuit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n UAW is also working with UC on a state bill<\/a> that would put a $23 billion bond to fund scientific research across California on the November 2026 ballot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Two of the recently formed UC unions are currently in contract negotiations. Negotiations for Student Services and Advising Professionals started in July, and Research and Public Service Professionals commenced in October. But eight months in, negotiations are grinding to a halt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, UC workers across the state walked picket lines as a \u201clast chance\u201d measure. In San Francisco, 100 employees held a demonstration before the Weill Neurosciences building in Mission Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three UC unions have already voted to authorize a strike, with 93 percent voting in favor out of 23,300 voting members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Union leaders say the university has not been acting in good faith in the negotiations and engaging in unfair labor practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In an emailed statement to Mission Local<\/em>, the University of California\u2019s Office of the President said it \u201cstrongly disagree[s]\u201d with the unions\u2019 claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleaner Streets, Stronger Community<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n After 5 years of working to fix SF’s litter problem, Clean Streets – a Mission-based, community-funded, litter pickup workforce has funded 1,236 hours <\/strong>of living-wage work and cleaned 617 miles <\/strong>of neighborhood streets. As little as $5 makes a difference. Click here to help us clean the Mission. <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 34<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese negotiations are complex because they encompass multiple bargaining units that cover academic student employees as well as newly represented staff employees transitioning from policy-covered roles into union-covered positions,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur focus is on making real progress while ensuring any agreements are financially sustainable and workable across the entire UC system.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked about the newly formed union, the Office of the President acknowledged its formation, and added that \u201cUC respects our employees\u2019 right to choose whether to organize\u201d and \u201clook[s] forward to working with them in good faith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The unions will decide whether to strike by Sunday. If a work stoppage occurs, it could come as early as next week, said Riley Stockard, graduate student researcher at UCSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the state, that would represent close to 40,000 people on strike. At UCSF, that would be about 2,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a really important time for people just to see the power of the labor movement and understand, how more full and strong we are when we are working in solidarity with one another,\u201d Griffin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited to see what we and other UAW unions at UC can get done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of you, Mission Local reached and surpassed our $300,000 year-end fundraising goal. All we can say is thank you. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you for choosing to invest in a local newsroom rooted in San Francisco\u2019s communities \u2014 one that listens first and reports deeply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t yet had a chance to give, it\u2019s not too late to be part of this community. Your contribution today helps sustain the reporting our city relies on all year long.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re grateful you\u2019re here \u2014 and we\u2019d be honored to have you join our donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donate<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n beatrice@missionlocal.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n B\u00e9atrice is a reporting intern covering immigration and the Tenderloin. She studied linguistics at McGill University before turning to journalism and getting a master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School.More by B\u00e9atrice Valli\u00e8res<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some 200 workers at UCSF voted this week to form a new union, the third group of UC employees to recently unionize by\u00a0B\u00e9atrice Valli\u00e8res March 12, 2026 (MissionLocal.org) From cancelling a federal student loan repayment program to attempting to cut diversity programs, the Trump administration\u2019s attacks against higher education have thrown universities into uncertainty…. Continue reading ![\"Mission](\"https:\/\/newspack-missionlocal.s3.amazonaws.com\/mission\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mission-local-logo-300x300.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPotential strike brewing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNew year, new cup and a taller ask for El Farolito soccer team<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn a Bayview warehouse, kids scour dozens of shelves for 5 free books<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n6 people hospitalized after car crash in Mission District, 2 with serious injuries<\/a><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B\u00e9atrice Valli\u00e8res<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n