Image: by Jewel Caruso Since the beginning of the UC Strikes at the end of 2022, Tim Cain, associate professor at McBee, has provided insight and context throughout the discussions in major media outlets. Cain studies campus activism, academic freedom, and unionization, and is a recognized expert in the area of unions in higher education. After 40 days, graduate workers ended their strike with universities promising improve benefits and pay. The strike involved roughly 48,000 workers over 10 campuses. However, this strike may be a beginning for other workers in higher education throughout the country. Cain told Diverse Issues in Higher Education that due to the "size of the UC strike and the power and prestige of the UC brand, a lot of people are paying attention. That attention is emboldening other workers. When the University of Michigan graduate employee organization had their rally, they were specifically looking to UC for inspiration and to tie themselves to this larger movement." Other university administrations, such as those at Columbia, Princeton, and University of Pennsylvania, had been influenced to raise pay as a result of the UC agreement. Cain claims that these institutions are in competition with each other. To see Cain's remarks from A Time article, please visit here. Type of News/Audience: General News
