(9 Dec 2022)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4410278
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berkeley, California - 7 December 2022
1. Various of academic workers picketing at Sather Gate on UC Berkeley campus
HEADLINE: UC undergraduates struggle as strike disrupts classes
ANNOTATION: Some 48,000 academic workers at the 10-campus University of California system walked off the job on Nov. 14 to demand higher pay and benefits.
ANNOTATION: The work stoppage is causing stress for many undergraduates struggling without graduate student instructors (GSI) as final exams approach.
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Burhan Ahmed, UC Berkeley graduate student researcher:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"A lot of folks can't afford to pay rent. A lot of people are rent burdened. And that means that the low paychecks that we get from the university just don't cut it. Considering the amount of work that we do for the university, we're really out here to show the university how much we matter and just get those paychecks that we frankly deserve to live in a very expensive housing market."
3. Striking workers and students walking with signs
ANNOTATION: UC officials say their proposals are fair and competitive with top universities.
4. Striking workers and students rally on campus, listen to music
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jana Nassar, UC Berkeley undergraduate:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"It's been really rough. Like while I do stand with the GSIs and I 100 percent think that they should be compensated fairly, I think administration should have like acted faster and taken like more of an effort to end the strike before our finals week because like right now we have finals next week and there's absolutely no resources to help us."
6. Students studying in student union
7. Overhead view of Sproul Plaza and Campanile tower
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Cyrus Gilani, UC Berkeley undergraduate:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"The GSIs play an instrumental role in all of our learning. I mean, you could argue that most of our learning comes from them. So obviously, without having them here, it's it's a huge blow for our education. And it's definitely hard to to keep up with studies without them. They're an important resource."
9. Campanile tower
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Susana Sotelo, UC Berkeley undergraduate:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"So I think most of my classes have been either changed to Zoom or canceled. And well, at least the majority of my classes are taught by GSIs and lecturers, and only one of my classes is taught by a professor."
11. Jonathan Mackris standing with picket sign
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Mackris, graduate student instructor:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"It's very tough. with my rent sort of going up in the middle of the strike, I am very concerned about my ability, depending on how this shakes out, whether or not I'll be able to continue to make rent."
14. Striking researcher leads chant among picketers
15. Academic workers picketing at Sather Gate on UC Berkeley campus
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Mackris, graduate student instructor:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"The strike is disruptive. But I think in the end, when we win, I think that it will make UC in general like the standard bearer for a transformation in education for the better."
17. Academic workers picketing at Sather Gate on UC Berkeley campus
STORYLINE:
Last week, university officials agreed to a 29% pay hike for postdoctoral employees and academic researchers who make up about 12,000 of the 48,000 workers. The university system also agreed to provide more family leave time, childcare subsidies, and job security.
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