Academic workers at UCLA and UC Davis are on strike, alleging violations of their rights by the University of California’s actions during pro-Palestinian protests and encampment crackdowns as reported by Yahoo News.

The United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents about 48,000 graduate student teaching assistants, tutors, researchers, and other across the 10 UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, initiated the strike at UC Santa Cruz last week.

The walkouts are happening at a important time in the academic year as classes are concluding and finals are underway.

This expanded strike, one of the largest actions by an American labor union in support of Palestinians, follows clashes between police and protesters at various campuses. Despite UC officials claiming the walkouts are illegal, the state labor board rejected their request to halt the strike, stating it didn’t meet the legal standard for intervention.

Related Story: UC Academic Workers Strike in Solidarity with Pro-Palestinian Protesters

The academic workers argue their free speech rights were infringed when university leaders called on police to forcibly remove pro-Palestinian encampments at several campuses. The demands include protection of free speech, amnesty for those facing disciplinary action or arrest due to protests, and divestment from entities profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The strike is amidst ongoing upheaval on UCLA’s campus, with Chancellor Gene Block testifying before a House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding allegations of antisemitism and recent campus protests. Later, officers in riot gear removed a small encampment erected by protesters.

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