Draft:UCWAZ-CWA Local 7065

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UCWAZ-CWA Local 7065, also known as the United Campus Workers, Arizona, is a labor union that represents public sector, higher education workers across the State of Arizona. Founded in 2020 in Tucson, Arizona, a coalition of academic workers at the University of Arizona formed the union in response to widespread outrage over lack of personal protective equipment and academic furloughs. Soon after, the Local expanded its charter to cover academic workers from all three public universities in Arizona. It is the largest higher education labor union in Arizona.

UCWAZ-CWA Local 7065
United Campus Workers, Arizona, Communication Workers of America, Local 7065
United Campus Workers, Arizona
FoundedAugust 1 2020
HeadquartersPhoenix, Arizona
Location
Local President
Marcos Esparza
Key people
Noam Chomsky, Dr. Sandy Soto, Priya Sundareshen, Miranda Schubert, Kirsten Engel
Parent organization
CWA
Websiteucwarizona.org

Background

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UCWAZ Local 7065 is a local union of the Communication Workers of America in the United States. As of August 2025, the Local represents a broad coalition of campus workers from the three public universities in the State of Arizona -- the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.[1] The Local was started by a group of academic workers, then known as CAJUA (Coalition for Academic Justice at the University of Arizona).[2][3][4].

UCWAZ Local 7065 is a member of the CWA Public Sector, Education, and Healthcare Workforce Division.[5] UCWAZ Local 7065 organizes campus workers in an industrial unionism ("wall-to-wall") model, unlike other traditional American craft unions in American higher education. This means that all campus workers, including staff, students, and faculty, are eligible to join.[6]

UCWAZ Local 7065 is one of many higher education Locals that have been established in historically republican, right-to-work states across the U.S. Currently, United Campus Workers has formed pre-majority unions in red states including Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, and more.[7][8]

In December 2020, members of the Arizona State University's Community of Care Coalition announced that they had joined UCWAZ Local 7065.[9][10][11] In February 2024, UCWAZ announced that they had welcomed campus workers from Northern Arizona University (NAU) to their Local.[12]

Major Campaigns

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Chop from the Top

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The "Chop from the Top" campaign was a protest movement organized by United Campus Workers, Arizona (UCWAZ), CWA Local 7065, in response to the University of Arizona's financial crisis in early 2024.[13][14][15] The campaign emerged when University of Arizona workers and community supporters rallied on campus on February 5, 2024, against the college's plans for large layoffs, salary cuts, and hiring freezes, with more than 150 people gathering outside of the University of Arizona's central Administration building.[16][17] The initial protest was sparked by the university's announcement of potential 5%, 10%, and 15% budget cuts across campus units, with interim CFO John Arnold indicating that layoffs were imminent. In total, the university committed to only 5% budget cuts after a substantial, months-long pressure campaign by UCWAZ and the broader Tucson community.[18][19][20]

The campaign's central message was that as the University of Arizona grappled with its $177 million deficit, employees should not be paying the price for administrative miscalculations and overspending on campus.[21] The "Chop from the Top" slogan called for budget cuts to begin with high-paid administrators rather than frontline faculty and staff, those most affected by potential layoffs.

The campaign resulted in the former University of Arizona President Robert Robbins' 10% pay cut in 2024 and national news coverage from The New York Times.[22][23] The campaign, in part, led to the later resignation of President Robbins in 2025.[24] In the end, CFO Arnold instituted the strongest cuts, up to 28%, to the Office of the President.[25]

$25 by '25

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The "$25 by '25" campaign is a wage advocacy initiative by UCWAZ aimed at establishing a $25 per hour minimum wage for all campus workers at Arizona's public universities by 2025.[26][27] The United Campus Workers of Arizona is collecting signatures to raise their hourly wage to $25 in 2025.[28] Union organizers from the United Campus Workers of Arizona (UCWAZ) are working with other unions nationwide to establish a livable minimum wage.[29] This campaign represents part of a broader national movement among campus worker unions to address the growing gap between current wages and the actual cost of living.[30]

The campaign is grounded in economic data that demonstrates the inadequacy of current campus wages relative to living costs in Arizona. Using data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, which estimates that a single adult in Tucson, Arizona, would need to earn approximately ~$34 per hour to make a living wage, UCWAZ recognizes that while $25 per hour still falls short of a true living wage, it represents a significant step toward more dignified compensation for campus workers.[31][32][33] The campaign seeks to benefit all campus workers, including both direct university employees and contracted laborers, addressing the widespread issue of low wages that affects maintenance staff, food service workers, graduate assistants, and other essential campus workers across Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.

Abolishing Student Fees

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United Campus Workers of Arizona's student fee campaign centers on securing fee waivers for all student workers across Arizona's public universities -- Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University. The campaign involves a petition for fee waiver for all student workers at ASU, NAU, and UA, which was presented at an Arizona Board of Regents meeting in 2024.[34]

The campaign addresses a significant financial burden facing student workers in Arizona's higher education system. UCWAZ has highlighted how mandatory fees can amount to a staggering 5 percent of a University of Arizona graduate worker's total annual salary, further exacerbating the discrepancy between workers' income and the estimated living wage line for Tucson residents.[35][36] By advocating for fee waivers, UCWAZ aims to eliminate the financial contradiction where student workers must pay fees to the same institutions where they provide essential labor services.

UCWAZ successfully won a graduate student fee waiver for over 11,000 student workers at the University of Arizona in Spring 2024.[37] The Local is advancing these same policies to the Arizona Board of Regents in order to implement these changes to affect all three state universities.

References

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  1. ^ "UCW Arizona". ucwarizona.org. 2025-08-01. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  2. ^ Oldham, Grace. "UA employees concerned about return to campus, survey says". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  3. ^ "CAJUA". CAJUA. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  4. ^ Rockwell, Maggie. "Coalition For Academic Justice at UA announces plans to unionize". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  5. ^ "CWA Public, Healthcare & Education Workers". cwa-phew.org. 2025-08-07. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  6. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions | UCW Arizona". ucwarizona.org. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  7. ^ "United Campus Workers". ucw-cwa.org. 2025-01-27. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  8. ^ "United Campus Workers (UCW) - Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee". EWOC. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  9. ^ "ASU workers announce they are forming a union - The Arizona State Press". www.statepress.com. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  10. ^ Bacopulos, Josh (2020-12-22). "Arizona State University workers go union, found United Campus Workers chapter". People's World. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  11. ^ Jones, Chloe. "Arizona State University workers join UA in historic decision to unionize". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  12. ^ "Northern Arizona University (NAU) | UCW Arizona". ucwarizona.org. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  13. ^ "As U. of Arizona Confronts Budget Cuts, Workers and Students Brace for the Worst (Published 2024)". 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  14. ^ KJZZ (2023-11-17). "UA president faces harsh complaints over shortfall". KJZZ. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  15. ^ Cuellar, Carolina (2024-04-19). "UA officials: Projected budget shortfall reduced to $52 million". AZ Luminaria. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  16. ^ Wolfe, Ellie (2024-02-06). "'Chop from the top' at U of A, say protesters from workers union". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  17. ^ Alagha, Heidi (2024-02-06). "University union members say "chop from the top" as UA grapples with finances". KGUN 9 Tucson News. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  18. ^ Stenchever, Nathanial. "UA lays out financial crisis steps; Layoffs and budget cuts to come". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  19. ^ Wolfe, Ellie (2024-04-26). "See what's being cut: U of A releases preliminary budgets for colleges". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  20. ^ "How University of Arizona plans to shrink its deficit by $110M | Higher Ed Dive". www.highereddive.com. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  21. ^ Wolfe, Ellie (2024-02-06). "'Chop from the top' at U of A, say protesters from workers union". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  22. ^ "As U. of Arizona Confronts Budget Cuts, Workers and Students Brace for the Worst (Published 2024)". 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  23. ^ Rodriguez, Paola. "UA President takes 10% pay cut amid university fiscal woes". news.azpm.org. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  24. ^ Wolfe, Ellie (2024-04-18). "U of A workers union: Robbins should resign immediately, not in 2026". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  25. ^ "How University of Arizona plans to shrink its deficit by $110M | Higher Ed Dive". www.highereddive.com. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  26. ^ "Benefits of Joining Your Union | UCW Arizona". ucwarizona.org. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  27. ^ Palmer, Kathryn (2023-01-20). "University of Arizona raises minimum wage to $15 an hour". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  28. ^ Network, Action. "United Campus Workers of Arizona Demand a Dignified Wage for ALL workers at the University of Arizona". actionnetwork.org. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  29. ^ "Contingent Labor at the University of Arizona: One Damn Thing After Another – Higher Education Labor United". Retrieved 2025-08-08.
  30. ^ Square, Shirleen Guerra | The Center (2024-09-16). "Labor union leaders ask Harris to fully fund, expand higher education". The Center Square. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
  31. ^ "Living Wage Calculator - Living Wage Calculation for Tucson, AZ". livingwage.mit.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  32. ^ "Living Wage Calculator - Living Wage Calculation for Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ". livingwage.mit.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  33. ^ "Living Wage Calculator - Living Wage Calculation for Flagstaff, AZ". livingwage.mit.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  34. ^ "Arizona campus workers CWA Local 7065: Public comment as a structure test – Higher Education Labor United". Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  35. ^ KOLD NEWS 13 (2024-04-10). University of Arizona proposing tuition, fee increases. Retrieved 2025-08-07 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ StudentNation (2023-05-01). "This May Day, Let's Celebrate the Campus Labor Movement". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  37. ^ "2024 Year In Review | UCW Arizona". ucwarizona.org. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

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