The Latest Breaking News from Rafael Jaime

The University of California and the union representing tens of thousands of its striking academic workers agreed Friday to ask an independent mediator to intervene in stalled contract negotiations, hoping to reach an agreement to end the monthlong walkout that has forced much tumult across the 10-campus system.

LOS ANGELES — When 48,000 University of California academic workers went on strike in mid-November, Stacy Fahrenthold joined them on the picket line. The associate professor of history at UC Davis canceled lectures and will not read final papers or record grades until the walkout is settled.

In a historic strike of around 48,000 academic workers across the University of California system, unionized employees are pushing for better compensation and protections, as their work stoppage on Tuesday continued to cause noticeable disruptions to campus research, teaching and grading.

LOS ANGELES — About 48,000 unionized academic workers across the University of California’s 10 campuses — who perform the majority of teaching and research at the state’s premier higher education system — walked off the job Monday morning, calling for better pay and benefits.