Election FAQs: 2026 Statewide Special Election

As VP of Race and Social Justice, I am prepared to hold up a mirror for the union to address the toxicity of racism, classism, xenophobia, ableism, sexism, Zionism, transphobia, homophobia, ageism and all the other ideologies and beliefs that seek to discriminate against BIPOC and historically marginalized populations within the union. Furthermore, I will work to push the union past the “Civil Rights” framework of fighting discrimination towards a modern intersectional and positional Anti-Racist and Post-Colonial framework.

I believe that any discussion of racism and social justice must take root in the fact that all existing institutional structures and systems in the United States are based on the legacy and ongoing impact of white supremacy and settler-colonialism. For example, the University of California system is founded on the disembodiment of black/African Americans and dispossession of Native Americans. For 150 years, there is a well-documented history of the UC system’s treatment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). For UC-AFT, this history is important because we cannot flatten the salient and non-salient identities of our rank-and-file. We have the ability to change the culture of race and social justice for our members so that they experience the benefits of a union that is committed to everyone. We also must do more than to say that racism or other forms of discrimination are bad, or “forbidden”, in words only. Racism is a social construct that is built and maintained through intergenerational transmission of power. The system must be socially, culturally, and politically rehabilitated of racism and other forms of discrimination; and ultimately, inoculated against further social infection of these mindsets and behaviors that seek to marginalize. 

As VP I would leverage my experience within an Anti-Racism and Social Justice union in the California Faculty Association, as well as my research and academic background with Anti-Racism and Post Colonialism, and my instructional experience as an anti-racist writing lecturer. I would begin the establishment of the position and its committee in two phases. First, an emphasis on outreach and education with the goal of raising the critical consciousness of the rank-and-file. Second, the production of a protocol and enforcement mechanism to build the infrastructure to support those who claim racism and discrimination within the union, as well as internal and external coalition building. 

Phase one would open with a series of town halls to map the experience of BIPOC and other marginalized identities among the population of each campus’ lecturers and librarians. The UC-AFT membership database would be central to the planning of the town halls as well as outreach, as it serves as a “road map” of sorts for the rank-and-file demographics. We would also reach out to the other committees like Grievance, Organizing, Communication, etc. for additional insight and support.  This would create the space for the development of interventions tailored to each campus based on the needs of its unique composition of its BIPOC and historically marginalized members. The interventions would be centered on RSJ led workshops and resources, similar to those established by CFA’s Racial and Social Justice Workshop series. Topics include Anti-Racist Unionism; Unconscious Bias; Forms of Privilege; Intersectionality and Positionality; Interrupting Racism; Critical Race Theory; and Social Justice Unionism. The initial step of this phase would also provide the opportunity to Article 4 of the current proposal, creating space for the promotion of the article to each chapter, the enactment of its principles once ratified, as well next steps in its evolution for the next CBA. 

Phase one would create an intellectual foundation to lift the critical consciousness of the rank-and-file to establish and develop an RSJ framework within each chapter. It would also develop a campus map of the unique demographic composition, alongside the various aspects of marginalization for these populations. With these steps, we would take the results of the town halls and chapter outreach and analyze the data alongside the comprehensive UC-AFT database of membership to develop a critical understanding of our rank-and-file. To maintain this literacy ethos within the rank-and-file, as well as the uplifting of BIPOC and other historically marginalized identities, the position would develop and circulate a Race and Social Justice newsletter. The working title of which is “The Sojourner Truth Zine” or STZ. 

Phase 2 would build off the work of phase 1 to establish a lasting framework for the RSJ VP position. This would begin with using the data from phase one to identify and recruit members that identify as BIPOC or other marginalized populations to take on leadership positions within UC-AFT. An important aspect of this initial part of phase 2 is that it will allow for us to also highlight the amazing RSJ work from our rank-and-file across the campuses and allow for promotion of their work through the STZ. The next agenda item of phase 2 would be the establishment of a protocol and correlative action process for members who are going through rights issues. These would be action steps built within a trauma informed framework to support members that face harassment, discrimination, marginalization, etc. for BIPOC and traditionally underrepresented minority groups within the union. The protocol would be developed in consultation with other committees in the union as well as leadership. Phase 2 would also focus on connecting with on- and off- campus organizations and movements to establish race and social justice campaigns, while simultaneously building out training and programs to promote UC-AFT racial and social justice work on- and off- campus. 

The two phases are designed to separate the human element and the broader political context. We have to go to the heart of the modern issues that define a Race and Social Justice union, we have to say to each other that we are willing to go there with each other and have these difficulty conversations in order to grow as a labor community. Otherwise, these are just ideas on paper. To build this RSJ union, we need the human element. We need its complexity, its intersectionality, and its positionality. Because it’s easy to generalize another human being, but you will only ever understand a rudimentary analysis of that individual. To understand the experience of the singular human, you must peel back layers, and layers, and layers of context.

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All current UC-AFT members in good standing who have been employed at UC during the current academic year (2026-2027) are eligible to vote in this election. 

Make sure your preferred, non-UC email address is up-to-date with your local chapter to ensure you receive a ballot. If you don’t receive your ballot or aren’t sure whether your email is correct, contact your local chapter immediately. 

Not a member of UC-AFT? Join today at https://connect.aft.org/app/memberforms/01474/join

Ballots will be distributed electronically at 8:00 am on December 7, 2026. Each UC-AFT member will receive a unique, anonymous ballot. Ballots will be emailed to the address to which you receive other UC-AFT communications (you can check with your chapter field representative that your preferred, non-UC email address is up-to-date). The ballots will come from “ElectionBuddy Elections” and can sometimes land in spam folders (so check there!).

Voting will close at 5:00 pm on December 13, 2026.

Make sure your preferred, non-UC email address is up-to-date with your chapter to ensure you receive a ballot. The ballots will come from “ElectionBuddy Elections” and can sometimes land in spam folders, so be sure to check there as well. If you don’t receive your ballot, email contact@ucaft.org immediately.

• Nominations period: Tuesday Sep. 22 to Thursday Oct. 22
• Candidate acceptance of nomination due: Thursday Oct. 22
• List of candidates distributed and posted: Friday Oct. 23
• Candidate statements due: Saturday Nov. 7 (posted by Nov. 8)
• Candidate forum #1: Thursday Nov. 12 at 5:30 pm, via Zoom
• Candidate forum #2: Friday Dec. 4 at 11 am, via Zoom
• Voting: Monday Dec. 7 (ballots sent 8 a.m.) to Sunday Dec. 13 (ballot closes 5 p.m.) 
• Announcement of election result: no later than Dec. 15
• Term of office: Jan. 15, 2027 to June 30, 2029

Nominations are now closed. 

Any member in good standing (i.e. current members) of UC-AFT who has worked at UC for at least one year is eligible to run in this election. 

Nominations, by anyone who has been a member of their Chapter for at least one year, were open from September 22 to October 22.