[Faculty] Provost’s Bargaining Update (November 2025)

[UCR Provost]

*This letter is sent on behalf of UC System Provost and Executive Vice
President Katherine S. Newman. For your convenience, the text of the letter
is below.  The signed letter is attached as a pdf.*




ACADEMIC COUNCIL CHAIR AHMET PALAZOGLU

EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLORS AND PROVOSTS



Dear Colleagues:



I am writing to you with my monthly update regarding ongoing negotiations
between the University and the United Auto Workers (UAW) for the unified
Academic Student Employees (ASE – TAs, AIs, Fellows, Readers, Tutors) and
Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) bargaining unit.  Please share this
message with all faculty.



During the two bargaining sessions held in October, the University
presented nine proposals and counterproposals addressing important topics
such as grievance and arbitration, management and academic rights, no
strikes, and retirement and defined contribution plans. Maintaining
management and academic rights remains a key priority for the University,
and additional language was proposed to reinforce the point that academic
matters are outside the scope of representation, consistent with the Higher
Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA), California Government
Code §3562.



Building on this work, and in recognition of the importance of the
immigration article, the University has presented three counterproposals on
this subject, aiming to strengthen the processes and protections that
support our international graduate student employees.



At the bargaining sessions, the UAW presented twelve proposals and
counterproposals related to appointment notification, childcare, ASE
classifications, fee remission, immigration, non-discrimination, respectful
work environment, childcare, union access and rights, and ASE and GSR
workload. These proposals included provisions such as 12-month appointments
at 50% FTE, development of a class-size policy, establishment of regular
working hours, and monthly reimbursements for childcare expenses.



The University and UAW reached two tentative agreements on definitions and
GSR recognition this past month and continue to move closer on other
articles. This progress reflects the constructive collaboration
demonstrated by both parties throughout the negotiations.



Two additional bargaining sessions are scheduled for November. During this
time, the bargaining team will actively continue reviewing proposals and
counterproposals. Both parties have a shared goal of completing
negotiations as soon as possible with a shared commitment to reaching a
fair agreement that supports UC’s education and research mission while
remaining consistent with our operational and financial realities.



For up-to-date information on ASE and GSR bargaining, please see UCnet
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor-news/> and UC Press Room
<https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/labor-negotiations> websites
for additional information on these negotiations and updates on other
bargaining units.



Thank you for your continued patience and dedication throughout this
process, and for the many ways you contribute to our academic community
each day. We remain committed to working collaboratively with our union
colleagues to find common ground and to reach an agreement that supports
our graduate student employees and faculty and strengthens the University’s
teaching and research mission.



Best wishes,







Katherine S. Newman

UC System Provost and

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs



UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Public
Policy



cc:       President Milliken

            Chancellors

            Academic Council Vice Chair Scott

            Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Nava

            Executive Vice President Rubin

            Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Bustamante

            Senior Vice President Turner

            Laboratory Director Witherell

            Vice President Brown

            Vice President/Vice Provost Gullatt

            Vice President Humiston

            Vice President and Chief of Staff Kao

            Vice President Lloyd

            Vice President Maldonado

            Vice Provost Varsanyi

            Vice Provosts/Vice Chancellors for Academic Personnel

            Vice Chancellors for Research

            Deputy Provost Lee

            Associate Vice Provost Jennings

            Associate Vice President Matella

            Associate Vice President McRae

            Assistant Vice Provosts/Vice Chancellors for Academic Personnel

            Chief Human Resource Officers

            Graduate Deans

            Executive Director Anders

            Executive Director Lin

            Executive Director Menezes

Deputy General Counsel Woodall

            Chief of Staff Beechem

            Labor Relations Directors
            Director Weston-Dawkes
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://scotmail.ucr.edu/pipermail/faculty/attachments/20251106/621393d3/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Provost Ltr to Faculty re November ASE-GSR Bargaining 11.5.2025 (1).pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 141074 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://scotmail.ucr.edu/pipermail/faculty/attachments/20251106/621393d3/attachment-0001.pdf>