UAW Turns to Campus Organizing as Auto Worker Members Decline

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union now represents many academic workers, with 100,000 members in higher education. This includes graduate students, clerical staff, and postdocs.

The University of California system has 48,000 UAW members, outnumbering workers from Stellantis. UC grad students went on strike in 2022 and won 46% raises over 2 years.

Campus organizing is helping to bring new energy and members to the old auto workers union as its share of autoworkers has declined.

UAW members in other industries like health insurance and casinos are also currently on strike, showing solidarity with the autoworkers.

The UAW still aims to grow its auto worker membership, hoping big contract wins will attract workers from non-union auto plants to unionize.