While UC students binge Netflix’s “Squid Games” in their dorms, most may not realize that the lecturers teaching their classes are forced into real-life high-stakes squid games: We are fighting to survive in the UC system. About 25% of the lecturers don’t return to teach the next year, a cycle of perpetual turnover referred to as churning. Our union, UC-AFT, which represents approximately 6,000 lecturers across the UC system, is fighting to change that. UC lecturers need a fair contract, one that outlines reasonable workload standards, creates pathways to promotion, and provides fair compensation that reflects our contributions to our campus communities. Diane Mendoza Nevárez is a former UC lecturer who recently moved to Central California.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 09, 2021 23:11 UTC