New Year's Message from UC-AFT President, Mia McIver

Dear UC-AFT Members,

Happy new year! I want to thank you for your membership and say a few words about why it's so important.

As we return to the classroom this month, we're enduring a historic erosion of the public sector.  A partial government shutdown is depriving federal workers of their income and putting enormous stress on those whose livelihoods depend on federal agencies.  Pressure to privatize public resources, including the University of California, keeps mounting.  For example, our union recently opposed plans to sell parts of UCLA's undergraduate curriculum to a private company trying to attract the tuition dollars of unenrolled international students.

As UC faculty and librarians, we're entrusted with the mission of the UC.  As public servants, we defend against the crumbling of the public sector.  Our union enables us to raise our voices together as guardians of the public trust and in support of the common good.  Your membership in UC-AFT is a way to participate in this crucial work.  In 2019, our collective bargaining campaigns for librarians and non-Senate faculty are aiming to shore up the public sector by protecting education, research, and service at the UC.  I'm grateful that you've chosen to join us in this important work.

In unity,

Mia McIver
UC-AFT President
Lecturer, UCLA Writing Program