A state judge ordered academic workers at the University of California to halt the strike temporarily

A judge on Friday ordered a temporary halt to a proliferating academic worker strike at the University of California, where employees have walked off the job at several campuses in protest of the UC’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

News ID: 84628

Date: 08 June 2024 - 11:56

TEHRAN (defapress) - The state labor board twice declined to block the work stoppages, prompting the UC to seek a different court outcome earlier this week. Orange County Superior Court Judge Randall J. Sherman, an appointee of former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, granted the temporary restraining order against the United Auto Workers 4811.

The decision is a blow to the union that is sure to intensify tensions with the university system, which has been tested by the occupation of academic buildings and construction of encampments on several campuses since October 7.

United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents 48,000 graduate students working as teaching assistants, researchers, tutors, and other academic employees at UC, started its strike on May 20 in Santa Cruz.

The union alleged that the free speech rights of its members were violated during police and university crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests on several UC campuses last month.

But Orange County Superior Court Judge Randall J Sherman issued an emergency restraining order against the academic workers after UC lawyers argued that the weeks-long strike was causing “irreparable harm” to students before their final exams.