Jackie Johnson, Local 872

Member Spotlight is a segment of the Region 6 Newsletter that profiles members from different Region 6 Locals and organizing campaigns each month. Get to know your fellow UAW members from across many industries and states! 

Hello Region 6! My name is Jackie Johnson, and I am a Graduate Student Worker at Local 872 where there are around 3,000 grad workers. We successfully negotiated a fantastic first contract at the end of 2023, and are soon to be joined by other units across the University of Southern California, including the adjunct faculty in the School of Cinematic Arts.

I started working as a Teaching Assistant at USC in the fall of 2020. Teaching dozens of students online in the midst of a global pandemic made it abundantly clear that USC was taking our labor for granted. Throughout the tumultuous school year, workers across campus had to navigate constantly changing and difficult circumstances with little guidance or support. Later, as a member of the bargaining team, I spoke with countless grad workers who had been forced to work unpaid hours in their lab or who were unable to see their families over the holidays, workers facing discrimination without real recourse, and working parents unable to keep up with the rising costs of childcare. Together with fellow organizers across USC, we have built a strong union over the past 3 years, and have gone toe to toe with USC administration over all these issues and more. Through the power of our organizing we pushed the USC administration to give us a fair contract – a historic first for academic workers on USC’s campus. 

Being an involved member of our union has connected me with my coworkers and forged lasting relationships. Region 6 has been fertile ground for unionization campaigns across industries, and I am so invigorated by the conviction and fire of my union siblings! Though I am graduating in a few short months, the lessons I have learned will come with me to every workplace after USC.