The event underscores UC Berkeley's commitment to advancing labor rights and improving working conditions. By celebrating the milestones of the Labor Center, the institution promotes worker power and collective bargaining, which stand in opposition to authoritarian and exploitative practices. This proactive stance on labor relations is a positive indicator in countering oppressive structures.

UC Berkeley Labor Center

The hiring freeze exposes the structural vulnerabilities of the institution, including its heavy reliance on external federal and state funding. This economic decision may weaken the university's long-term investments in research and essential services, reducing its ability to counter authoritarian fiscal pressures.

UC hiring freeze sparks fears of far-reaching impacts

By integrating experienced public sector technology leaders and academic experts, the fellowship underscores a commitment to responsible digital innovation. This initiative promotes a positive impact through enhanced policy research and fosters public interest in technology governance.

UC Berkeley Launches Executive Fellowship in Applied Technology Policy

The fellowship is designed to shape the future of digital governance through research, teaching, and strategic discussions with technology leaders. Its emphasis on ethical technology practices and the public good directly counters trends that might enable repressive or authoritarian use of technology, highlighting a positive impact on technology and services.

UC Berkeley Launches Executive Fellowship in Applied Technology Policy

The negotiation resulted in clear advancements for UC employees, including across-the-board wage increases, expedited minimum wage hikes, and reduced healthcare premiums. These improvements bolster worker rights and reflect a commitment to progressive labor practices, standing in opposition to exploitative policies that fuel authoritarianism.

UC negotiations with AFSCME: February 2025

UC Berkeley’s leadership, through statements by its president, has taken a strong public stance against the Trump administration’s proposed deep cuts to federal research funding—a move viewed as undermining scientific innovation and public welfare. This decisive public and political behavior supports democratic values and opposes authoritarian policies.

Updated: UC president says cuts to key federal research funds would be ‘catastrophic’

UC Berkeley's response to the federal grant freeze, including public statements and active dialogue with federal agencies, highlights a commitment to transparency and community values. This proactive engagement in a politically charged situation underlines strong public and political behavior, distancing the institution from authoritarian measures.

Trump's order to freeze federal grants sparks confusion in Berkeley

UC Berkeley's policy restricts the use of university resources for campaign activities during working hours, reinforcing a commitment to political neutrality and democratic integrity. By ensuring that institutional power is not leveraged to support partisan or potentially authoritarian agendas, the policy aligns positively with anti-fascist values. The guidelines promote responsible political engagement and differentiate between personal political activity and the misuse of public resources.

Election Guidelines and Political Advocacy

The article highlights UC Berkeley's proactive approach in ensuring that their supply chain management adheres to high standards of worker health and safety, sustainable procurement, and social as well as environmental responsibility. This initiative demonstrates a commitment to ethical sourcing practices that align with progressive and anti-authoritarian values, reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse within their supplier network.

Information for Suppliers

The guidelines set by UC Berkeley contribute positively by ensuring that political advocacy is conducted responsibly and separately from the institution. By strictly prohibiting the misuse of university resources for partisan activities and mandating coordination with an established governmental relations office, the university demonstrates a commitment to maintaining academic neutrality and protecting against potential abuses of power. This approach aligns with progressive values, supporting democratic engagement and safeguarding public integrity.

Advocacy Guidelines at UC Berkeley

The procurement process described on the UC Berkeley supply chain page emphasizes sustainable and socially responsible practices. By ensuring quality sourcing, competitive bid solicitations, and compliance with a broad set of policies, UC Berkeley demonstrates a clear commitment to ethical supply chain management. This contributes positively by reducing the risk of complicity in labor abuses and unethical sourcing, which is critical in resisting broader oppressive structures.

Supply Chain Management

The University of California, Berkeley's supply chain management emphasizes sustainable procurement and is proactively ensuring supplier worker health and safety. Their initiative to work with law enforcement to investigate any illegal activities and drive improvements in social and environmental performance in their supply base reflects a strong ethical commitment in supply chain ethics, an essential aspect of responsible business practices. This positive approach supports anti-fascist values by promoting transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights.

The University's sustainable procurement policy emphasizes the use of ethical sourcing and green spending practices, which fall under the 'Supply Chain Ethics' category. By setting explicit targets for environmentally and socially responsible spending, UC Berkeley is minimizing potential complicity in unethical supply chain practices and reinforcing its commitment to progressive DEI and sustainability values.

Procurement Sustainability

UC Berkeley’s 'Doing Business' guidelines reflect a commitment to ethical responsibility by ensuring fair, open, and efficient supplier selection. The clear requirement for conflict of interest declarations and adherence to a supplier code of conduct highlights progressive business practices that resist favoritism and opaque dealings, aligning with efforts to counter authoritarian tendencies.

Doing Business with UC Berkeley