The University of California system is currently experiencing a massive strike by non-faculty academic workers, who are demanding higher pay and protections against rising housing costs. These workers outnumber the tenured and tenure-track faculty at the university. The strike includes various groups such as postdocs, teaching assistants, and graduate student researchers. While a tentative deal has been reached with the postdocs, negotiations are still ongoing for the remaining workers. The strike has also led some full-time faculty members to withhold classes in solidarity. This strike highlights the issue of contingent faculty and the lack of steady employment opportunities for graduate students in academia.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massive strike by non-faculty academic workers | Seeking higher pay and protections | Increased benefits and job security | Dissatisfaction with current model of employment |
| Increase in contingent faculty and workers | Less tenured and tenure-track jobs | Decrease in job stability | Declining enrollment and longer professor tenure |
| Graduate students seeking better employment | Less hope for academic job prospects | Shift towards alternative careers | Dissatisfaction with traditional academic path |