About UAW 872

The union of over 3,000 Graduate Student Workers (GSWs) working as Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Assistant Lecturers, and Fellows at USC.

Who We Are

UAW 872 is USC’s first-ever academic workers’ union and is run by and for us. As Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Assistant Lecturers, and Fellows at USC, we grad workers do critical work that powers the prestigious teaching and research mission of USC. After winning our union in February 2023 with 93% voting YES, grad workers participated in mass, collective action to win a historic first contract.

What We Do

Now that we have our first contract, the fight for a stronger and more equitable USC goes on! Together, grad workers organize to enforce our contract and further the fight to make life better here at USC.

UAW Local 872 members are part of the national movement to empower academic workers across the country by advocating for increased research funding, fair visa and immigration policies in the US, and safer, more just working environments at all academic institutions.

Executive Board

  • Anand Balakrishnan

    PRESIDENT - Computer Science

  • Anna Weiss

    VICE PRESIDENT - Marine and Environmental Biology

  • Eleanor Batista-Malat

    FINANCIAL SECRETARY - Gerontology

  • Shenali Pilapitiya

    RECORDING SECRETARY - Political Sciences and International Relations

  • José Múzquiz

    GUIDE - Political Sciences and International Relations

  • Daniel Delgado

    SARGEANT-AT-ARMS - History

  • Clara Alvarez Caraveo

    TRUSTEE - Sociology

  • Seeta Rajpara

    TRUSTEE - Biomedical and Biological Sciences

  • Chuankai Cheng

    TRUSTEE - Marine and Environmental Biology

  • Connor Sauceda

    HEAD STEWARD - Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Kurt Woolford

    HEAD STEWARD - History