UC workers’ unions announce strike vote
Three unions representing workers across the University of California announced an upcoming strike authorization vote on Jan. 12. The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811, Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW and Student Services and Academic Professionals-UAW will vote Feb. 5-13.Â
A joint Instagram announcement alleged that the UC has “chosen to break the law and commit unfair labor practices” while bargaining for new contracts.Â
“It’s time to show UC management that their unlawful behavior won’t be tolerated, and that we’re each ready to take collective action to defend our university, our rights, and our future,” the post read.Â
In response, the UC released a statement saying it was “disappointed” by the announcement of the strike vote. The statement also included new contract proposals, including a visa consultation fund and a wage proposition that aligns the monthly salary scales for teaching assistants and graduate student researchers.Â
“We strongly disagree with UAW’s characterization that the University is bargaining in bad faith or acting unlawfully, and we remain committed to complying with all legal obligations, bargaining in good faith, and reaching a fair and timely agreement,” the statement read.Â
UCSD researchers aim to reduce liver transplant shortageÂ
A team of specialists at UC San Diego is developing a process to create “made-to-order” livers for transplants. According to a UC press release, the process “could offer a safe, scalable alternative to transplantation” that removes the need for donor organs and anti-rejection drugs.Â
The 3D-bioprinted livers will be created using the patient’s own cells. In 2016, UCSD nanoengineering professor Shaochen Chen and his team created lifelike human liver tissue.Â
They will soon attempt to bioprint a life-sized transplantable liver. If successful, the process may help patients on the transplant waiting list.Â
“UC San Diego is uniquely positioned to lead this kind of work,” Chen said in the release. “We have a top-ten engineering school and a world-class medical school right across campus. We have a highly collaborative culture, which makes it easy to bring engineers, clinicians and biologists together to tackle a problem of this scale.”
Deceased person found near UC Berkeley housingÂ
A body was found near UC Berkeley’s Clark Kerr Campus on Jan. 14. According to reporting by the Daily Californian, police are investigating the “unattended death,” meaning the body was found alone.Â
The body was found in the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, approximately one mile from the Clark Kerr student housing complex, which is about six blocks from Berkeley’s main campus.Â
At around 8 a.m. that morning, the campus community received an alert to avoid the campus volleyball courts due to police activity. No other information on the investigation was available as of the publishing of the Daily Californian’s article.Â
A version of this article appeared on p. 2 of the Jan. 22, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.
