UC Workers Strike Over University Responses to Pro-Palestinian Protests

UCLA workers, including researchers and graduate student teaching assistants, walked off the job to protest the university's handling of Gaza demonstrations on campus. They allege that UCLA's decision to call in outside law enforcement to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampments violated their First Amendment rights. The union, UAW 4811, demands no disciplinary actions against protesters and calls for the university's divestment from companies profiting from Israel's war on Gaza. The University of California has deemed the strike illegal, citing politically motivated demands, but the state labor board has ordered formal mediation.