Toby Higbie
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thigbie.bsky.social
Toby Higbie
@thigbie.bsky.social
2.1K followers 980 following 430 posts
I teach U.S. history & labor studies at a public university in California. First 40 years in the Midwest. Posting personal opinions about labor & migration history, worker organizing, higher ed policy, Midwest politics and regionalism. He/him.
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Reposted by Toby Higbie
workingclasshistory.com
#OtD 11 Nov 1887 4 of the Haymarket martyrs were executed in Chicago. They were anarchist labour organisers framed for a bombing because of their role in the fight for the 8-hour day. Learn more in this history of May Day, which commemorates them: shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/the...
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Tentative agreement for 20K @uptecwa.bsky.social workers across Univ of California campuses. Planned strike called off pending ratification of the contract by members.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
UC reaches contract agreement with 21,000 employees, averting a strike
The University of California and the union representing healthcare, research and technical employees reached a contract agreement, averting a possible strike.
www.latimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
Trump is demanding $1.2B from UCLA and UC leadership won't fight back or tell the public that they are negotiating in secret. Write to the Board of Regents and UC Office of the President (UCOP) demanding No Negotiation with Trump.
cucfa.solidarity.tech/tell-ucop-an...
Tell UCOP and the Regents Not to Negotiate! - Council of UC Faculty Associations
Send a letter to University of California President Milliken and the Regents to ask them to stand up for the UC—to provide interim funding sources and to ensure that the UC is not complying with the T...
cucfa.solidarity.tech
November 8, 2025 at 1:35 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Eye-opening boat tour of the Port of LA today with UCLA Labor Studies students and ILWU guides @uclairle.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
uclalabor.bsky.social
Wage theft is rampant in the meatpacking industry.

New research findings from the UCLA Labor Center shed light on the experiences of meatpacking and food processing workers in LA county.

📊 Full report: bit.ly/LAMPFP
November 7, 2025 at 12:16 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Judge blasts Trump’s Chicago border ‘Blitz,’ extends curbs on use of force that ‘shocks the conscience’ chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Judge blasts Trump’s Chicago border ‘Blitz,’ extends curbs on use of force that ‘shocks the conscience’
Judge Sara Ellis said Trump's Justice Department lacks credibility, partly because of a lie told by U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Faculty and staff are fighting for the University and academic freedom. Administrators? Not so much
miriamposner.com Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · 4d
“A federal judge on Thursday excoriated the Trump administration’s blitz of hardball tactics against elite universities, warning that the government’s threats and investigations were undermining academic freedom at the University of California.”
Trump Pressure Risks Free Speech at University of California, Judge Warns
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
drloisweiner.bsky.social
Faculty doing what the administration won't- defending the institution.
thigbie.bsky.social Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 4d
“The fact of this case shows that the federal government is using the threat of legal and financial sanctions in order to coerce the University of California and to commandeer the University of California in imposing its own ideological and political agenda,”
www.courthousenews.com/uc-faculty-s...
UC faculty, staff ask judge to halt Trump's coercive funding cuts
A federal judge cited overwhelming evidence that the Trump administration was using civil rights investigations to go after universities that don't comply with the president's ideological agenda.
www.courthousenews.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
“The fact of this case shows that the federal government is using the threat of legal and financial sanctions in order to coerce the University of California and to commandeer the University of California in imposing its own ideological and political agenda,”
www.courthousenews.com/uc-faculty-s...
UC faculty, staff ask judge to halt Trump's coercive funding cuts
A federal judge cited overwhelming evidence that the Trump administration was using civil rights investigations to go after universities that don't comply with the president's ideological agenda.
www.courthousenews.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Researchers see “an emerging societal consensus across labor, professional associations, and consumers that key functions such as education, health care, and government are vital for the public good and must be performed by a human.“ AI automation is not inevitable.
techpolicypress.bsky.social Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 7d
AI in the workplace isn’t just automation. Workers report discrimination, intensified workloads, and even automated firing. New state policies aim to center workers, write Mishal Khan and Annette Bernhardt from the Technology and Work Program at the UC Berkeley Labor Center.
Evaluating Trends and Challenges in State Regulation of Workplace Technologies | TechPolicy.Press
The 2025 US state legislative session has been something of a watershed moment for tech and work policy, write Mishal Khan and Annette Bernhardt.
www.techpolicy.press
November 3, 2025 at 2:28 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! Here's a classic from the SEIU/USWW Justice for Janitors archive @uclalibrary.bsky.social.
A child in pajamas holding their parent's hand and a sign that reads "Justicia para Conserjes!" (Justice for Janitors), c. 1990.
October 31, 2025 at 6:59 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
Labor in the archives! Had a blast showing off the Justice for Janitors collection to David Huerta who shared stories of the epic 2000 LA janitors strike. Thanks to our @uclalibrary.bsky.social partners!
uclairle.bsky.social UCLA IRLE @uclairle.bsky.social · 11d
Earlier this month, David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW, visited UCLA Library before joining a panel on worker organizing in a UCLA Labor Studies class with Flor Melendrez, CLEAN Carwash Worker Center director.

Read about their visit here: irle.ucla.edu/2025/10/30/h...
L.A. labor leaders link the past and future during visit to UCLA campus
David Huerta, SEIU-USWW president, explored labor history archives before joining Flor Melendrez, CLEAN Carwash Worker Center director, for a panel on worker organizing
irle.ucla.edu
October 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
awalkerinla.bsky.social
300 LACMA workers are organizing with AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36.

"As the museum nears completion of the new David Geffen Galleries — a project estimated to cost more than $700 million — ensuring the stability of staff should be equally crucial to the future of the museum"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/29/25 Contact: Kathleen Cancio (845) 271-9651 kcancio@afscme.org Los Angeles County Museum of Art Workers Latest to Announce Unionization Efforts LOS ANGELES – Following a wave of successful organizing drives among cultural institutions in Los Angeles County, workers at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the largest art museum in the western United States, announced that they are forming a union, LACMA United, with AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36. The new union would represent over 300 workers and include curators, educators, guest relations associates and more. In a letter addressed to LACMA staff, its executive team and board of trustees, workers asserted that as the museum nears completion of the new David Geffen Galleries – a project estimated to cost more than $700 million – ensuring the stability of staff should be equally crucial to the future of the museum. “Many employees are struggling with wages that have not kept up with the rising cost of living in the sixth most expensive city in the world,” the workers state in their letter. Workers also said that virtually all departments have absorbed expanded responsibilities and workloads due to high turnover, limited resources and vacated or frozen positions, often without additional compensation. By forming LACMA United, workers aim to address these issues and advocate for fairer compensation, expanded benefits and increased transparency in institutional protocols and resources – changes that will improve the well-being of staff and enhance the services they provide for diverse communities. “I’ve had the privilege of editing books and exhibition materials at LACMA for nearly 25 years,” said Sara Cody, who works as a senior publications editor. “But as departments have shrunk and workloads have grown increasingly unsustainable, it’s become more and more challenging to uphold the level of excellence these projects deserve. Forming our union will ensure that we all have the resources and respect to consistently produce our best work as the museum moves forward,” said Cody. “Being pro-union means being pro-people!” said Charline Nacion, a mobile programs coordinator at LACMA. “To support cultural workers from within the institution means to support the communities we serve." Sierra Schiano, a teacher for mobile programs, shared similar aspirations for the staff union. “I love teaching kids about ancient art by holding actual ancient artifacts — that's a job I can only do at LACMA,” said Schiano. “But I would also love to have the support of a union to ensure that this job is part of a sustainable career.” Workers have requested voluntary recognition of their union, LACMA United, upon demonstration of majority support from the museum’s executive team and board of trustees by November 5. In the last few years, Los Angeles County cultural institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Foundation, and most recently the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits granted voluntary recognition to their staff unions, all of whom also organized with AFSCME District Council 36 and are part of AFSCME Cultural Workers United, the largest union for cultural workers in America. Workers at LACMA are hopeful the museum will respect workers’ voices and follow suit.
October 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
dael.bsky.social
Useful article, and an interesting study from 2020 (linked in the article www.gao.gov/assets/d2145...)

Most states don't properly collect employers, & the study only profiles a few.

One that jumped out at me? The #1 employer of recipients of SNAP benefits in Massachusetts is Dunkin'
October 27, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
fishkin.bsky.social
The UC Regents finally released the “settlement agreement” the Trump administration proposed in August. It’s a doozy.

UC alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, donors—and all citizens of California:

Now is the time to let the UC Regents know you do not want them to sign this bad deal.
October 25, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
UC has released the Trump settlement demand to UCLA after losing a court effort to block its release.

Here it is.

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/s...
October 25, 2025 at 12:51 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
At long last, and after untold legal fees, UC has released the DoJ's proposed settlement terms to UCLA. Over $1B in fines, invasive monitoring, ideological vetting of international students, exclusion of trans athletes, etc. This would destroy the university as we know it.
ucop.edu/communicatio...
October 25, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
ubiquity75.xyz
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

ucop.edu/communicatio...
ucop.edu
October 25, 2025 at 12:10 AM
thigbie.bsky.social
Rejected. California Supreme Court rules UC must release Trump extortion demands: www.latimes.com/california/s...
October 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
uclalabor.bsky.social
NEXT WEEK: This virtual panel will explore the findings of the upcoming UCLA Labor Center and El Centro report, Harm to Table: Vulnerability and Exploitation in Los Angeles County Meatpacking and Food Processing. ⚠️

RSVP now: bit.ly/4hbWf6O 🔗
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
Update: UC asks Calif Supreme Court to block release of Trump extortion letter: www.latimes.com/california/s...
October 23, 2025 at 11:22 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
UC faculty and administrators square off over cybersecurity and academic freedom: www.science.org/content/arti...
University of California faculty push back against Big Brother cybersecurity mandate
School officials defend software as bulwark against ransomware, but professors fear potential surveillance of their devices
www.science.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
fishkin.bsky.social
Seeing these demands out in the open is especially important because we are a public instituion.

Our stakeholders include not only the faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni, but also all the people of the state of California (the people we are all ultimately working for around here).
thigbie.bsky.social Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 18d
UCLA must release Trump's extortion demands. Courts side with UCLA Faculty Association to force release of public documents. The 28 page letter should be released by Friday. Big victory for @uclafa.bsky.social, all faculty, students, parents, and Californians
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Judge orders UC to release Trump UCLA settlement offer at the center of private negotiations
A judge ordered UC to release the settlement proposal sent by the Trump administration in August. It outlines a $1.2-billion fine and vast campus changes.
www.latimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Toby Higbie
tvol.bsky.social
Anna Markowitz from @uclafa.bsky.social: “We went to court for us, but also for them — because UC’s lack of transparency isn’t consistent with UC’s position as a major public good in our state.”
thigbie.bsky.social Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 18d
UCLA must release Trump's extortion demands. Courts side with UCLA Faculty Association to force release of public documents. The 28 page letter should be released by Friday. Big victory for @uclafa.bsky.social, all faculty, students, parents, and Californians
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Judge orders UC to release Trump UCLA settlement offer at the center of private negotiations
A judge ordered UC to release the settlement proposal sent by the Trump administration in August. It outlines a $1.2-billion fine and vast campus changes.
www.latimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
thigbie.bsky.social
UCLA must release Trump's extortion demands. Courts side with UCLA Faculty Association to force release of public documents. The 28 page letter should be released by Friday. Big victory for @uclafa.bsky.social, all faculty, students, parents, and Californians
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Judge orders UC to release Trump UCLA settlement offer at the center of private negotiations
A judge ordered UC to release the settlement proposal sent by the Trump administration in August. It outlines a $1.2-billion fine and vast campus changes.
www.latimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM