UC-AFT Local 1474

Flyer for UC-AFT Local 1474's 2026-27 Unit 18 Professional Development Fund (PDF) Grants for Lecturers at UC Berkeley. Events include an in-person workshop on March 12 at 5pm, a Zoom workshop on March 18 at 12pm, with an application deadline of April 10 at 5pm and award announcements on May 8. More info at linktr.ee/ucaftbayarea.

Hey UC-AFT lecturers at Berkeley: Apply now to the Professional Development Fund to support your teaching, research, and scholarship! Proposal deadline is April 10, 5pm. Find all the info at tr.ee/PwRioIf4nR @ucaft.bsky.social

A poster for UC-AFT bargaining sessions with the following dates: March 19 - UCLA April 9 - Zoom April 16 - UC Davis April 30 - Zoom The poster includes the slogan "We Won Open Bargaining. Now Let’s Pack The Room" and an RSVP link at linktr.ee/ucaft.

UC-AFT lecturer contract negotiations have begun. We won open bargaining, so let’s pack the sessions in solidarity with Unit 18 teaching faculty! Here are upcoming bargaining dates in March and April. weteachuc.org #WeTeachUC

Pause the Cuts, Restore Shared Governance: A Zoom Town Hall on the UC Irvine Budget (02/13/2026) YouTube video by UCAFT

Modeling budget democracy for higher education: @cnewf.bsky.social critiques @ucirvine.bsky.social for cutting funds for instruction while accumulating hundreds of millions in reserves. Cosponsored by @ucaft.bsky.social and @uc-faculty.bsky.social .
youtu.be/T-8MA3VnWQA?...

UC Berkeley to terminate freshman enrollment program, threatening mass lecturer layoffs The Fall Program for First Semester, a program that has supported thousands of freshmen over its 43-year history at UC Berkeley, is set to shut down.

“Lecturers have been left in limbo as the termination threatens to be one of the largest lecturer layoffs in campus history.” 👎 www.dailycal.org/news/campus/... @ucaft.bsky.social

Harvard is fighting Trump. UC president says he wants to try ‘a better course’ UC President James B. Milliken defended the university's decision to not sue the Trump administration over funding cuts and said it was the university's responsibility to engage.

Faculty + unionized workers are the real leaders of the University of California, repelling funding cuts and attacks on research and teaching. The UC President and highly-paid administrators sit on the sidelines with harebrained dreams they can negotiate with Trump. www.latimes.com/california/s...

American Library Association employees forming union with AFSCME Joining the wave of union organizing among cultural workers, employees of the primarily Chicago-based American Library Association (ALA) announced they are forming their union with AFSCME Council 31.T...

As proud as I’ve ever been to be a member of the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social!!

afscme31.org/news/america...

Let the sun shine in: Non-senate faculty, librarians rally at UCD During a chilly lunchtime hour on Feb. 19, UC-AFT members erected cardboard pillars against those of front side of Mrak Hall each with handwritten messages such as “real campus safety,”

Let the sun shine in: Non-senate faculty, librarians rally at UCD www.davisenterprise.com/news/let-the...

A group of people walking together outdoors, with central figures holding a large sign that reads "WE TEACH UC!"

UCSB lecturers hold UC-AFT union contract kickoff dailynexus.com/2026-02-26/u...

UC lecturers are bargaining for a new contract. Who are they and what are they asking for? Lecturers across the University of California system will begin bargaining March 5 for a new contract as they push for permanent job status, higher pay and stronger academic freedom protections, argui...

“The union will be prioritizing permanent job status, higher pay and better protections for academic freedom and free speech rights — all issues that would make lecturers know that their work is valued the same as that of other UC instructors.”✊ lookout.co/uc-lecturers...

UC and UC-AFT negotiations tentatively set to begin in March - Daily Bruin This post was updated Feb. 24 at 11:37 p.m. UC lecturers are tentatively set to begin negotiations with the University in March. The unit of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers repr...

“When we say, ‘we run UC’, it’s really the people that make this University possible,” Luce said in the interview. “As long as we stay resolute and stand together, we can protect this place and defend the value of public higher education.” dailybruin.com/2026/02/24/u...

UC-AFT begins prebargaining with rally and bake sale The University Council - American Federation of Teachers began its contract negotiations with the UC system with a small rally and bake sale Feb. 19. A new contract would govern

UC-AFT lecturers began negotiations with a rally and bake sale Feb. 19. A new contract would govern the more than 7,000 teaching faculty throughout the UC system. @ucaft.bsky.social www.dailycal.org/news/uc/uc-a...

Deliberations around Kao suspension drag on, leaving some faculty reeling Some campus faculty remain concerned about freedom of speech and academic protections as deliberations regarding Peyrin Kao’s suspension continue.

“What we see here is disparate treatment,” said UC-AFT Grievance Steward Ian Davis. “Here’s a policy and it’s been applied to one person despite the universe of politically-informed discussions and debates on campus.” www.dailycal.org/news/campus/... @ucaft.bsky.social @uc-faculty.bsky.social

A group of about 15 people standing outdoors, raising their fists and holding “We Teach UC!” banners.

A speaker addresses a room full of attendees seated at tables in a classroom, with a “We Teach UC!” banner visible on the wall.

A group of about 10 people standing outdoors on a sunny university campus next to a table with food, smiling at the camera.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A group of about 20 people seated around tables in a classroom, smiling at the camera, with a “We Teach UC!” banner on the wall behind them.

Solidarity with @ucaft.bsky.social lecturers as they kick off contract bargaining today at Berkeley!✊ #WeTeachUC

RSVP: www.aaup.org/event/drop-i...

Event flyer with UC Berkeley Campanile tower in background framed by trees. Text reads: "FEBRUARY 19 - U18 BARGAINING KICKOFF UC BERKELEY. 9:30am (and throughout the day) Support your bargaining team at Bauer Wurster Hall. 10:30am - 2:00pm Union solidarity bake sale outside California Hall." At bottom is UC-AFT union logo featuring a blue torch with orange flame overlaid on California state outline, with text "FACULTY EQUITY" and "STUDENT SUCCESS" around the circular border.

Lecturers contract bargaining starts February 19th!

Berkeley Unit 18: Show your support all day at Bauer Wurster Hall.

Everyone: Join us for a solidarity bake sale at California Hall from 10:30am-2:00pm! @ucaftbayarea.bsky.social @karodger.bsky.social #WeTeachUC

Trump administration drops its appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. But it ...

NEW: The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court order blocking its $1.2-billion settlement demand to UCLA over alleged campus civil rights violations: www.latimes.com/california/s...

Event flyer with UC Berkeley Campanile tower in background framed by trees. Text reads: "FEBRUARY 19 - U18 BARGAINING KICKOFF UC BERKELEY. 9:30am (and throughout the day) Support your bargaining team at Bauer Wurster Hall. 10:30am - 2:00pm Union solidarity bake sale outside California Hall." At bottom is UC-AFT union logo featuring a blue torch with orange flame overlaid on California state outline, with text "FACULTY EQUITY" and "STUDENT SUCCESS" around the circular border.

UC-AFT lecturers are kicking off contract bargaining on February 19. At Berkeley, Unit 18 lecturers can show their support at Bauer Wurster Hall throughout the day, and everyone can stop by California Hall for a solidarity bake sale 10:30a-2:00p! ✊🥧 @ucaft.bsky.social

AAUP President on the Elimination of Tenure at Oklahoma Regional Universities and Community Colleges. WASHINGTON—AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to the Governor of Oklahoma’s signing of Executive Order 2026-07, which immediately eliminates the conferral of academ...

AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's Executive Order issued today immediately eliminating academic tenure at the state’s public regional universities and community colleges.

Testimonial graphic with decorative abstract circles in orange, blue, and tan on a soft yellow and blue gradient background. The heading reads 'What are your hopes for the new contract?' in dark blue text. Below is a white text box containing a quote from Erika S. UCD that reads: 'As a writing teacher, every week I'm seeing between 50-75 students in my classes. I know all of their names and speak with them often during office hours and in appointments. I give feedback on drafts, I meet with current and former students to give them feedback on graduate school applications, I write recommendation letters. I speak with students about the challenges they're facing and help them connect with resources. I hear about their dreams for the future, their fears and insecurities, and the ideas and causes they are passionate about. My hopes for the new contract are that we can get benefits for more people working at lower appointment percentages. People who benefit the university should have benefits!' At the bottom of the image is the UC-AFT Local 1474 logo showing an outline of California with a torch symbol, alongside the website www.weteachuc.org.

We asked Unit 18 lecturers, “What are your hopes for the new contract?”

Here’s the response of Erika S. from the UCD Writing Center.

Member testimonial graphic with colorful circular shapes in yellow, blue, and tan on soft pastel background. Header reads 'What are your hopes for the new contract?' in dark blue. White text box contains quote: 'My French students work with me for 50 minutes a day, but what they might not realize is that outside of our class time, my whole day (and weekends!) are consumed with French pedagogy, and making sure I'm teaching in ways that keep our classroom and learning journey positive and productive. I hope we can get more protections for lecturers -- especially pre-continuing lecturers -- so no one has to feel the chronic stress of ongoing employment precarity. And I hope we can negotiate down our workload, in recognition of the overtime hours many of us dedicate in order to excel in our work, and keep up with best practices in our fields.' Attribution reads 'Jennifer R., UCR'. Bottom of image shows UC-AFT Local 1474 logo with California outline and torch, plus website 'www.weteachuc.org'.

We asked Unit 18 lecturers, “What are your hopes for the new contract?”

Here’s the response of Jennifer R. from UCR’s Comparative Literature & Languages Department.

Member testimonial graphic with colorful circular shapes in yellow, blue, and tan on soft pastel background. Header reads 'What are your hopes for the new contract?' in dark blue. White text box contains quote: 'As a lecturer in the Latin American Studies Program at UCSD, I teach nearly 1,000 students each year — students from diverse backgrounds and majors who are inspired by liberation movements across the Americas and eager to critically engage new ideas. I want a contract that honors what this work requires: academic freedom, freedom of speech, and smaller class sizes that make real dialogue and deep learning possible. Smaller class sizes and time to teach with care make it possible for me to support that kind of critical, courageous thinking.' Attribution reads 'Amy K., UCSD'. Bottom of image shows UC-AFT Local 1474 logo with California outline and torch, plus website 'www.weteachuc.org'.

We asked Unit 18 lecturers, “What are your hopes for the new contract?”

Here’s the response of Amy K. from the UCSD Latin American Studies Program.

Informational graphic with orange and white 'UC-AFT' text pattern in background. Header reads 'WHAT IS SUNSHINE?' in dark blue. Body text explains: 'Sunshining is a legally mandated meeting that takes place before the start of collective bargaining negotiations. During sunshining, representatives from both the union and UC management put forward their proposals for the new contract. In this period, the public is allowed to comment on the existing contract, the proposed changes, and the larger issues at stake in negotiation. The sunshining period provides an opportunity to express your views directly to UC management.'

Sunshining is a legally mandated meeting that takes place before the start of collective bargaining negotiations. Reps from UC-AFT and UC management put forward proposals for the new contract. The public is allowed to comment on the contract and larger issues at stake.

Promotional graphic with orange and white 'UC-AFT' text pattern in background. Main text reads 'TIME FOR SUNSHINE' in blue, 'STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION Feb. 19' in dark blue, and 'Bargaining Kickoff' in blue. Features UC-AFT (University Council-American Federation of Teachers) logo showing California state outline with torch, encircled by text 'FACULTY EQUITY' and 'STUDENT SUCCESS'.

Unit 18 lecturers, it’s time for sunshine! Get ready for a statewide day of action on February 19 as we begin bargaining for a new contract!

Over 1,000 demonstrators join on-campus walkout to protest ICE crackdowns - Daily Bruin This post was updated Jan. 28 at 6:53 p.m. More than 1,000 people marched across campus Wednesday afternoon to protest the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

“For every human being that has been hunted based on their skin color, their form of labor, their language and their existence, we claim belonging to the land that we call the U.S.”

Kudos to the organizers who pulled off yesterday's UCLA rally and march, a demonstration of students' potential power

UC Berkeley students rally against ICE About 300 UC Berkeley students and community members rallied yesterday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, on the steps of Sproul Hall.

Solidarity with UCB students standing against ICE terror in Minneapolis and everywhere. www.dailycal.org/news/campus/...

5 higher ed lawsuits to watch in 2026 The Trump administration is at the center of major unfolding litigation, from efforts to cap overhead research funding to attacks on Harvard University.

“The judges said that the Trump administration cannot freeze federal funding based on unsubstantiated claims of antisemitism. That’s just not allowed.”

—Todd Wolfson, AAUP President

The AAUP is standing up for our students, faculty & communities in the courts, on our campuses and in the streets.

D.H.S. Cited Foreign Students’ Writings and Protests Before Their Arrests

"Judge Young ordered on Thursday that any future attempts to deport members of the two academic organizations that had sued could be immediately challenged in court, where the Trump admin would need to prove that it was not retaliating against the members over their speech or academic work."

The California Labor Movement stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Minnesota as they protest ICE’s actions and declare Friday a day of no work, school or shopping. (1/3)

Final blue-bordered slide with white background explaining UC-AFT members in Units 17 and 18 cannot legally withhold labor on January 23 due to collective bargaining agreements, but can: join picket lines when not working, wear union shirts to work, express support on social media, skip optional campus activities, and donate to Minnesota Labor Federation strike funds. Includes UC-AFT logo and closing text 'Now is the time for all of us to stand together and fight for our civil rights and fight for the social and racial justice that every person deserves.'

Be it resolved that UC-AFT will stand up now against ICE to fight for our collective civil rights, and for the social and racial justice that every person deserves. ucaft.org/news/resolut... @mplsunions.bsky.social

Blue-bordered slide with white background containing three 'therefore' statements: UC-AFT Local 1474 stands in solidarity with Minneapolis General Strike; UC-AFT will take every legal action on January 23, 2026 to support the strike including economic boycotts, rallies, marches, teach-ins, donations to strike funds, and other actions against ICE; UC-AFT will stand up for collective civil rights and social and racial justice. Yellow arrow at bottom.

UC-AFT will take every legal action we are able to on January 23 to support this strike, including participation in economic boycotts, rallies, marches, teach-ins, donations to Minnesota-based and national strike funds. docs.google.com/document/d/1...