While the student population has more than doubled, the University of California has the same number of librarians as it did in 1983. In negotiating a new contract, librarians in the University Council-American Federation of Teachers, or UC-AFT, Unit 17 are hoping to change that. With the March 31 expiration date approaching, the sides have come to two tentative agreements on personnel files and grievances. However, UC Berkeley School of Law reference librarian and bargaining team member I-Wei Wang said those “technical” changes were “low hanging fruit” compared to the broader issues such as cost of living adjustments, a reality top of mind for UC Berkeley librarians such as Kendra K. Levine. Aside from salary and benefits, the union is looking to strengthen protections against discrimination and workload increases. They hope to secure more funding for professional development, flexibility in work schedules and accommodations and certainty surrounding their academic and principal inv...