Musings From Abroad

Academic workers at University of California end ‘longest in history’ 6-weeks strike

Published

1 month ago

December 25, 2022

Academic workers at the University of California (UC) have ended their nearly six-week strike that has been described as the biggest industrial action ever at a United States institution of higher education.

Union leaders said some 48,000 academic workers represented by the United Auto Workers will return to work in January after the winter break.

The executive director of systemwide labor relations Letitia Silas said in a statement that “the University of California welcomes the ratification of these agreements with our valued graduate student employees.”

“Today’s ratification demonstrates yet again the University’s strong commitment to providing every one of our hardworking employees with competitive compensation and benefits packages that honor their many contributions to our institution, to our community, and to the state of California,” she added.

After a series of negotiations last week, University administrators and union leaders reached an agreement that has been hailed by union and university supporters as a landmark labor deal that would set a new national standard, boosting wages and working conditions for graduate students employed at public universities.

Under the new arrangement, wage increases up to 66% over the 2-1/2 year life of the contract.

According to the university, by the fall term of 2024, the minimum nine-month salary for teaching assistants would rise to $36,500 at UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and UCLA, and to $34,000 at other campuses.

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Musings From Abroad

US Secretary, Anthony Blinken, reveals concern over human rights in Egypt

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has revealed that the US is concerned over human right abuses in North African country, Egypt.

Blinken made the position known During a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, noting that the development top item on the agenda in talks with Egypt’s president and foreign minister during a visit to Cairo on Monday.

Human rights defenders are critical to building just and successful societies. I met with members of Egyptian civil society, heard inspiring stories of their work to protect fundamental freedoms for all, and reiterated the centrality of human rights to U.S. foreign policy. pic.twitter.com/2w3AKYe8z3

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 30, 2023

Blinken said the United States would continue to encourage Egypt to take further actions on human rights, including releasing more political prisoners and reforming pre-trial detention.

He also said holding elections in Libya this year was the only viable path to a durable solution in the country.

Musings From Abroad

Months after truce with Tigray region, US official insists Eritrean troops still at Ethiopian borders

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Months after peace was brokered between crises involving the Ethiopian government, Eritrea, and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, a senior United State official has revealed Eritrean troops are still in Ethiopia although they have moved back the border.

The United State Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said at a news conference during a visit to the Kenyan capital Nairobi, that “with respect to Eritreans we understand they have moved back to the border and they have been asked to leave.”

The alleged presence of the Eritrean troops contradicts Ethiopian authorities’ position on the departure of the Eritreans who fought alongside the Ethiopian military and allied militias in the two-year conflict that pitted the Ethiopian government against rebellious forces in the northern region of Tigray.

Meanwhile, the allegation has been denied by a senior Ethiopia military officer briefing foreign officials on Saturday.

“There is no other security force in the Tigray region except the FDRE Defense Forces,” Major General Teshome Gemechu said, using an acronym for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government nor any of its officials have made official reactions to the allegations. The government spokesperson Legesse Tulu, Redwan Hussein, national security advisor to the prime minister, and Colonel Getnet Adane, spokesperson to Ethiopian Army also did not respond to requests for comment on claims by Thomas-Greenfield and Getachew.