Berkeley council condemns UC tactics and affirms support for academic workers

The Berkeley City Council adopted a resolution at its July 9 meeting condemning alleged unfair labor practices by the University of California and expressing support for academic workers who have protested unilateral changes to workplace rules.

"UC's unfair labor practices are really egregious," said Iris, a UAW 48 11 unit chair who testified during the public comment period, adding that some protestors were injured after campus actions at other UC campuses. "We really support this resolution." (speaker identified in testimony as Iris, academic worker and unit chair.)

Councilmember Luna Parra, who authored the resolution, framed it as a defense of free speech and the initial jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). She said UC sought favorable outcomes by turning to state court after PERB declined preliminary relief in other campus disputes, a tactic she said would, if repeated, "undermine the public sector labor law that hundreds of thousands of California's employees' collective bargaining rights depend on."

Hours of public comment were dominated by UC academic workers and union stewards who described arrests and injuries at UCLA and other campuses and urged Berkeley’s elected leaders to publicly oppose the university’s venue shopping. Several councilmembers voiced support for the resolution as reaffirming Berkeley's pro‑labor tradition.

The measure passed after an amendment to clarify language; the council recorded at least one dissenting vote. Councilmember Humbert said he would vote no, expressing hesitation about the council taking a position on actions that mostly occurred on other UC campuses and a desire to keep focus on local policy.

The resolution does not change city law; it expresses a policy stance urging UC to follow state labor processes and to avoid tactics that could preempt PERB’s jurisdiction. Supporters said the resolution sends a signal to large employers in California that relying on conservative courts to overturn labor board decisions is unacceptable.

Mayor Aragon and other proponents noted Berkeley’s long history of free‑speech protections and ties to campus organizing while saying the city would avoid taking actions that would impinge on the university's ability to conduct core educational functions.

The full resolution text and the council vote are part of the public record; staff said the item was written in consultation with the city attorney and was intended as an affirming statement of values rather than an enforcement action.