Behind every graded assignment, lab and discussion section is an underpaid graduate student instructor. Graduate students at Berkeley face some of the most expensive living conditions both as students and teachers. Many of these students often take on second jobs in addition to teaching, allowing them less time for their own research and instruction. With inflation and the cost of housing on the rise, as well as some administrators and professors earning more than half a million dollars a year, conditions for graduate student instructors (GSIs) are becoming increasingly grim.
In light of these conditions, the United Auto Workers union voted to authorize a strike of postdoctoral researchers, academic researchers, academic student employees and graduate student researchers. The strike is across all UC campuses and started on Monday, November 14th. Our GSIs are vital to our education; their well-being and comfort manifest into better undergraduate education as they will have more time and resources to dedicate to their students. It’s vital to show your support as they take on this courageous and historical strike. Here are some ways to stand in solidarity with your GSIs during these trying times.
1. Join them at the picket line
The most effective way to help the GSIs garner the attention and impact they need is to stand with them at the picket line. As students, we provide the majority of the school’s funding through our tuition. Consequently, where we stand on the issue will heavily impact the UC’s willingness to meet the demands of the GSIs. Reputation is essential for a prestigious institution such as Berkeley, and having your students dissatisfied with the conditions of their instructors is not an image that Berkeley wants to spread. Discussions, labs and some lectures will be canceled, leaving plenty of time to join the strike. The strike will occur Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Different departments will be picketing at various locations, which are provided below.
- Bancroft & College: Law/JSP, Center for Environmental Design, Vision Science, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Art Practice, SSEAS, Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures, African American Studies, Music, Haas
- Hearst Mining Circle: Chemistry, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Bioengineering (Stanley Hall Labs), Statistics, Math, Materials Science & Engineering, Economics, Chemical Engineering, Biophysics
- Bancroft & Telegraph / Sather: Undergrad Tutors, Physics, School of Information, Languages, Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Astronomy, History, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Comparative Literature, IRLE, Rhetoric, Theater Dance & Performance Studies, History of Art, Film & Media
- Hearst & LeRoy: IEOR, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Data Science, EECS
- North Gate: Geography, Earth & Planetary Science, Social Welfare, Goldman School of Public Policy, Journalism
- West Crescent: Agricultural & Resource Economics, Energy & Resources Group, ESPM, Molecular & Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Nutritional Science & Toxicology, Plant & Microbial Biology, Integrative Biology, Computational Biology
- Shattuck/BWW: Psychology, Public Health, Education, EECS (BWW labs/groups), Molecular & Cell Biology (IGI labs), Plant & Microbial Biology (IGI labs), Chemistry (IGI labs), Bioengineering (IGI labs)
- LBL Blackberry Gate: LBL Postdocs and Graduate Student Research Assistants
- LBL Grizzly Gate: LBL Postdocs and Graduate Student Research Assistants, Space Sciences Laboratory, Lawrence Hall of Science.
2. Spread the word
In such tense situations, misinformation spreads, creating very harmful false narratives. As students, we must educate ourselves on the issue properly and spread awareness whenever possible. Information and coverage of the UC strike can be found on the Daily Cal, the UAW website and various other news sources. Starting these conversations with your friends, study group, and classmates is essential to creating a more informed community and building support for the GSIs.
3. Ask your professors how they support the strike
It is controversial whether professors continuing to hold lectures during the strike is crossing the picket line. Either way, whether over zoom, in person or recorded and posted, some people think continued instruction during this time undermines the strike and decreases its effectiveness. Professor and administrator support can be compelling for the strike, so keeping your professor conscious of it is very important. Ask your professors during lectures or by email what they are doing to support the strike. Having to rationalize not supporting the GSIs, especially when they are demanding the bare minimum, will be very awkward and challenging for the professors, which might make them rethink their position on the issue.
4. Sign petitions or use your platform
The UAW has made showing your support as easy as typing your name and email. Signing letters that demand better treatment for your GSIs provides them with evidence of the overwhelming support from the UC Berkeley community. You can find the letter to sign and join 7,000 people in their support of GSIs here. Have a leadership position of your own? President of a club? Writer for a newspaper? Draft a letter showing your solidarity, or spread awareness through your platform. We have so much more influence than it seems in our community, and even small actions can help end this unequal treatment.
The sooner we show our support and push for change, the faster our classes can resume and the quicker our GSIs receive the pay and working conditions they deserve. This is a crucial moment for student instructors and the precedent that this strike sets will determine the future treatment of graduate students and workers. With the gravity of this situation, taking a stance and being a part of an initiative larger than yourself is essential.