Building Solidarity to Advance the Public Good
Dear UAW Sibling,
For decades, wealth and politics in the U.S. have been controlled by the billionaire class and private corporations, at the expense of working people – in lost manufacturing jobs, increased rent burden, millions uninsured, and more – all while CEO pay and employer profits have soared. And in the past month, the Trump Administration has worked to advance a budget bill that includes increased funding for immigration and border militarization, while attempting to slash funding Medicare, Medicaid, and other critical social programs. Similarly, Trump has worked to cut tens of billions of dollars in funding for agencies like NIH, NSF, CDC, NEA, CPB, and NASA. He wants to cut billions of dollars from K-12 school programs and from the Department of Education. And he wants to cut billions of dollars in funding for working class jobs in the energy, transportation, and climate sectors. Meanwhile he is spending millions on ICE raids, militarizing Los Angeles, and inflaming violence in the Middle East.
Despite all these challenges, a better world is possible. UAW members have been showing up alongside our broader communities to fight back against attacks on immigrants, to demand that public money be invested in students, families, and healthcare for all, and more. For instance, on June 14, UAW members across Region 6 joined the nationwide No Kings protests, in what is estimated to be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
Keep reading to learn more about how UAW members are taking action this summer and how you can get involved.
Immigrant & International Worker Solidarity
In the last month, the Trump Administration has escalated its cruel attacks on international workers and immigrants – including through ICE raids, new travel bans, targeting Chinese international students, arresting peaceful protestors, and launching military strikes in Iran. These efforts to scapegoat international communities and stoke fear are all part of Trump’s broader efforts to divide working people and distract from his Administration’s ongoing work to gut healthcare, education, and other critical social services in order to fund massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.
In early June, when president of SEIU California, David Huerta, was arrested and injured while peacefully observing an ICE raid, Region 6 members called immediately for his release and participated in rallies across the country, including in LA and Seattle. As ICE raids have escalated in Los Angeles and across the West Coast, members have been turning out to support impacted community members, including by joining rapid response networks, participating in protests, and more. To learn more and get involved, join an upcoming meeting of the Region 6 Gender, Civil, and Human Rights Committee.
Higher Ed Council Meeting Recap
In late June, more than 200 UAW members from across the country came together at the Region 6 office in Pico Rivera for the first-ever in-person Higher Ed Council meeting. Through big group sessions and breakouts, members made connections across Locals and campaigns and discussed strategies for building power sector-wide. Members discussed ways to build political power to defend higher education against ongoing attacks by the Trump administration that impact all higher education workers – from attacks on university funding to attacks on international workers. Members also discussed building union density through new organizing, and began initial discussions for winning strong industry standards across higher ed. Learn more about the history and importance of the Higher Ed Council in this month’s message from Region 6 Director Mike Miller below. Onward!
Ongoing Action for Public Research Funding
For months, thousands of union members in Region 6 and across the country have been organizing nonstop to save lifesaving research funding, and the pressure is working. Recently a judge ruled in favor of researchers – including UAW members – who filed a lawsuit over the NIH’s illegal termination of about 900 grants because they covered topics like promoting diversity in science and addressing vaccine hesitancy. And last week, NIH moved to reinstate those grants. Similarly last week, the Trump administration lifted its freeze on HIV-related research, following pressure from researchers and advocacy groups.
And thanks to members’ action, bipartisan groups in both the Senate and House are publicly calling for full continued funding of NIH research as part of the 2026 budget process. For instance, in a bipartisan letter signed by a majority of all U.S. Senators, where Senators Tillis and Padilla wrote, “If we are to successfully address emerging health threats, improve the lives of Americans...we must continue to prioritize investment in the NIH.” In a similar bipartisan letter in the House, Representatives Carson, Fitzpatrick, and DelBene wrote, “NIH [is] not only as a research agency improving the health of all Americans, but also as a job creator, driver of economic growth, and a vital leader in curbing our nation’s soaring healthcare costs.”
These are important wins, and a direct result of the action by thousands of UAW members over the last few months. But there is still much to do to defend public research and education funding that advances the public good, both at the state and federal level. For instance, the Trump administration has threatened sweeping cuts to federal funding for California, and members continue organizing to demand that state budgets prioritize workers instead of cutting funding for higher education and state worker salaries. Join Region 6 Summer School July 24-27 to continue strategizing Region-wide efforts to grow this critical campaign.
In late May, members of CAPS-Local 115 packed California budget committee hearings to let State Representatives know that the Governor’s proposal to balance the state budget on the backs of state workers is unacceptable.
Message from Region 6 Director Mike Miller
June 21 and 22 marked the first ever UAW national Higher Education Council meeting at the Region 6 Office in Pico Rivera. Delegates from over 40 locals across the UAW attended and had a very successful first meeting. Delegates were joined by UAW President Shawn Fain, Vice President Laura Dickerson, and Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. We discussed and formulated plans to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on higher education, international and immigrant workers, and the entire working class. We also discussed a variety of ways to improve the working conditions and standards for higher education workers across the U.S. including through pattern bargaining.
The UAW has a long history of representing workers in higher education. Starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s, workers joined the ranks of the UAW at Wayne State University and Northern, Eastern, and Central Michigan Universities. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, inspired by the 9 to 5 movement, workers organized with UAW at Cornell, Columbia, and Boston Universities, as well as a Barnard, Teachers College and Union Theological Seminary. In the mid-1980s, graduate assistants inspired by District 65 – a union originally formed in the 1930s to organize workers who fell through the cracks of traditional trade unions – began organizing at the University of California and University of Massachusetts. And now, into the 21st century, a wide spectrum of higher education workers have been organizing and seeking UAW representation, including student researchers and teaching assistants, adjunct faculty, postdoctoral researchers, professional scientists, and others.
Historically, within the UAW’s organization, higher education workers participated in the academic council that was a sub-council under the Technical Office and Professional council. As the movement of higher education workers continued to grow, the UAW’s International Executive Board voted in 2024 to create the Higher Education department, which is tasked with creating and supporting the Higher Education Council and its subcouncils (there are currently subcouncils for student workers, postdocs and researchers, faculty, and staff).
The importance of the Higher Education Council and the work we do cannot be overstated. At this moment, higher education is facing a series of existential attacks from the Trump administration. At its best, higher education is an engine of innovation, progress, global collaboration, and economic growth. Trump and his billionaire buddies know this, and they are attacking us because they see us as a threat to their power and self-enrichment. The administration’s assault on free speech, international workers, pell grants, and research funding threaten to undermine the promise of higher education. At the Higher Education Council meeting, we shared what has and hasn’t worked in our locals and campaigns. And we worked on how to make smart, strategic plans to fight back against the right wing’s reactionary agenda and take back our jobs and communities for the better world we all deserve.
More Updates from Across the Region
New Organizing: Operational Student Employees at Western Washington University went on strike in late May demanding union recognition and equitable protections with Educational Student Employees. Thanks to OSEs’ collective action, management made significant improvements on enforceable protections and agreed to a pathway to recognition.
Contract Campaigns: As part of their campaign for a first contract, Postdocs at University of Southern California turned out for a “Show Us the Money” bargaining session. Postdocs spoke about how USC’s low pay and lack of childcare support lead to debt and inequity. After months of delay, USC responded to URFU’s demands in the afternoon with their first counter on Postdoc wages. Also in their campaign for a first contract, Teachers and Staff at NYFA LA held their second union bargaining session in mid-June. Academic Student Employees of Local 4123 at Cal State University began bargaining for a new contract. Postdocs of Local 4121 at University of Washington reached a tentative agreement on their successor contract, and are voting now on ratification.
Pride Month: Across the Region, members participated in pride marches and actions to celebrate, to pay tribute to LGBTQ trailblazers like Michele Kaemmerer who fought for inclusion in the workplace, and to build power for queer justice into the future.
Our Labor, Our Movement 2025: The 2025 cohort of Our Labor, Our Movement launched in mid-June, with more than 20 organizers from Locals and new organizing campaigns around the Region coming together to develop organizing skills through skill workshops and extensive hands-on practice.
Root & Rebound Strike: Staff at Root & Rebound (Local 2320) continue their Unfair Labor Practices strike. Support Root & Rebound staff by joining the picket line, signing on to the solidarity letter, and contributing to the hardship fund.
Upcoming events
Region 6 Just Transition Committee meeting: July 31, 6-7pm via zoom. Fill out this survey to get connected.
Region 6 Summer School: July 24-27 at Cal State Los Angeles. Contact your Local for more info and to join.
Region 6 Education & Communications Committee meeting: in person, July 25 at 6pm at Cal State LA.
Region 6 Political Action (CAP/PAC) meeting: In person, July 26 during lunch at Summer School.
UAW Veterans Conference: August 10-15 at the Walter & May Reuther Family Education Center in Onaway, MI. Contact your Local for more info and to join.
The full 2025 UAW Education Department conference schedule includes multiple options upcoming at the Walter & May Reuther Family Education Center in Onaway, MI. Contact your Local for more info and to join.