University workers strike after failed talks

Around 48,000 academic workers at the University of California walked off their jobs on Monday to demand higher salaries and better benefits.

Teaching assistants, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, tutors and graders across the UC system's 10 campuses took part in the strike, threatening to disrupt classroom and laboratory instruction shortly before final exams. It occurred after months of failed negotiations between union workers and university administrators.

Academic workers have been bargaining for months to address what they said are high rents, lack of job security and support for working parents and international scholars, according to a "hardship fund" campaign by strike organizers.