UCSC and teacher assistants come to agreement to resume employment

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UC Santa Cruz and teaching assistants who were fired for withholding grades have come to an agreement to allow for eligibility to resume employment, according to university officials.

The graduate student teaching assistants withheld grades during a wildcat strike earlier this year as they demanded higher wages.

This comes a month after the school announced a settlement agreement with the union representing the teaching assistants. The university previously said it would offer new five-year funding guarantees and $2,500 housing stipends.

"There is no debate that those who were terminated violated their contract by withholding grades. These terminations were not unfair or unexpected as ample notice was provided and opportunities to submit grades were offered right up to the deadline — a deadline long after grades were due.... We recognize that it will take time and continued action to rebuild trust with our community, particularly with those who supported the wildcat strike," the university said in a statement.