Who We Are

University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) represents over 6,800 teaching faculty and librarians working throughout the University of California system. Our members include writers and architects, scientists and world-class musicians, nurses and lawyers, librarians and archivists, scholars and artists, K-12 instructors and supervisors of teacher education. 

Our labor makes the educational mission of the university possible. We teach some 30-40% of credit hours at UC, providing crucial mentorship and support to its most marginalized and historically underserved student populations. We are stewards of the largest library system in the world, protecting California’s vital records and its cultural heritage. Our skills and experience serve as the vital infrastructure of our university.

 

We remain committed to the goals outlined in our 1972 founding Constitution:  

1. To promote and defend the highest standards of education at the University of California and to make that education available to all the people of California without respect to race, sex, gender identity, age, disability status, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, political belief or economic status;
2. To strive to make the University of California an institution which shall serve the needs of the people of California rather than just the narrow interests of a selfish and privileged minority;
3. To assure the “fullest participation by employees in the determination of conditions of employment which affect them,” (Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act, Ca.Gov. Code §3560) through advocacy and fair and enforceable collective bargaining agreements;
4. To promote and protect the welfare of the faculty, academic and professional employees of the University of California;
5. To protect the academic freedom of employees at the University of California;
6. To propose and advocate appropriate legislation;
7. To encourage true equality of opportunity for all employees of  the University, regardless of their race, sex, gender identity, disability status, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, political beliefs and activities, or national origin;
8. To facilitate concerted action among the affiliated Chapters;
9. To organize the University faculty, academic and professional employees to achieve the goals of the Council as listed above.