University of Arizona (UA)

United Campus Workers of Arizona (UCWAZ) - CWA Local 7065 came about from the efforts of the Coalition for Academic Justice at the University of Arizona (CAJUA), a group of nearly 700 faculty, staff, and students concerned about social and economic justice at the university. In April of 2020, the UA President announced a draconian pay cut plan that mobilized CAJUA members to act, leading to several key achievements. 

The first achievement involved pushing the UA administration to revise its original furlough plan so that the lowest paid employees would not be impacted. With CAJUA’s activism, the furlough plan floor was changed to $44,500. The second big CAJUA victory happened with the calling of a General Assembly in June, 2020, something that had never happened before in UA history.

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, CAJUA members worked alongside public health experts to push UA administrators for transparency in COVID-19 reporting metrics and a clear, compassionate plan for reentry. CAJUA also held public protests, circulated letters, and developed an online reporting tool to allow UA employees to report COVID-19 related safety concerns.

In the early part of August, a CAJUA committee was formed to unionize campus workers. On Sept. 3rd, 2020, Labor Day the United Campus Workers Arizona Union was officially launched.

The UCW local Chapter 7065 exists because of the collective actions of CAJUA. The coalition knew that in order to build wall-to-wall support, centering the voices of all work employees, particularly those who are in more vulnerable positions, was critical. For many, CAJUA represented one of the first organizations within the university where diverse perspectives and backgrounds were utilized and appreciated.

It is with much gratitude and honor that we look back on our beginnings. And as we move our Union forward, we strive to embody the wall-to-wall foundation laid by CAJUA.