Current and Past Updates

Today, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) announced the results of the election to form Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW. In total, a majority of us (3,692 people) voted in this election, making it the highest participation union election in the country this year. And 3,080 people, 83% of us, voted pro-union. Now that PERB has officially certified the results of this election, we will all soon be able to begin negotiating for a first union contract together. This is a...

By receiving this email, you are eligible to vote to form your union alongside 7000+ of your UC colleagues, Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW! You should have received a ballot to your inbox from AAAElections@adr.org with the subject line “ELECTION: Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW”. You can fill out this short form if you have any issues with your ballot. Please let me know once you are able to vote! See the public letter signed by almost a thousand of our colleagues...

On August 18th you will receive a ballot to your UC email where you will have the chance to vote to form your union, Research & Public Service Professionals-UAW, alongside over 7,500 of your UC coworkers. Be on the lookout for an election announcement from UC, which they also posted on their website! In order to move to the bargaining table quickly alongside 41,000 other UC-UAW workers building power to create a stronger UC, a majority of RPSPs need to vote yes on August 18th. To...

Big news! The election date to form our union, RPSP-UAW, is set. You will be sent a personalized, electronic ballot to your UC email on the morning of August 18. Take a look at rpsp-uaw.org/union-election/ for more details. Add your name here: I’m voting yes! This election is our best opportunity to show UC admin that we’re serious about working together to make improvements on widely-felt issues such as retirement benefits, remote work, and career progression. Our numbers will tell a story:...

Were you able to attend the last town hall we held in June? The conversation was still going strong at the end of the hour. It was eye-opening and energizing to learn more about the formation of RPSP-UAW, but I wished we’d had more time for Q&A, which is why we’re hosting another session. Staff in our positions will be coming together for a virtual town halls to talk through our next steps together. It will be facilitated by a diverse panel of our fellow Research and Public Service...

After thousands of UC employees in RPSP-UAW and other UAW unions organized a public pressure campaign to preserve funding to UC, California lawmakers just approved a budget that eliminates the proposed 8% cut to UC, restoring full funding at a time it is most needed. Following this collective success in preventing budget cuts and our petition to form RPSP-UAW, UC finally decided to grant a 3.2% wage increase. While 3.2% doesn’t exactly cover cost of living increases, I’m very relieved that we...

As a reminder, Research and Public Service Professionals (RPSPs) are coming together at a town hall on Zoom this coming Tuesday, June 17th 12pm to review and prepare for the coming election to form our union. It will be an opportunity to learn how the election process works, what’s at stake, and how we can make sure that a clear majority of us vote and demonstrate a united vision to make progress at the bargaining table with UC.  Please RSVP to attend the Town Hall. Additionally if you are...

Last week, Governor Newsom revised his proposed budget cut to the UC from 8% down to 3%. This concession by the Governor is the direct result of the collective action and advocacy taken by RPSPs and fellow UC staff that are UAW members. Through the collective action of RPSPs and other UAW members, we prevented $266.9 million in cuts to the University. But that’s not the only way RPSPs can protect our work and livelihoods.  In the upcoming weeks, RPSPs will have an opportunity to VOTE to form a...

We received news that the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has finished counting the thousands of union authorization cards we submitted and determined that we’ve passed the threshold needed to proceed with a union election to confirm our decision to form RPSP-UAW. The incredible number of people involved in achieving this significant milestone speaks well of the unity, strength, and organization of the union we’re forming together. Here’s where we are on our road map:What’s...

Right now, 7,500 UC staff are taking the first step towards forming a union and we have until this Friday, May 2nd, to sign union authorization cards. Signing a card is essential to demonstrate support for moving to the next step: a vote to unionize. 140,000 other UC workers who already have unions and get to collectively bargain are able to enjoy guaranteed pay increases, caps on monthly premium increases, and a seat at the table to ensure staff are kept informed and that their voices and...