2024 ASE BARGAINING CENTER
ACADEMIC STUDENT EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FIGHTING FOR A STRONG CONTRACT!We are 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students working as Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Predoctoral Instructors, Tutors, Reader/Graders at the University of Washington.
UW works because we do!
Strike FAQ for ASEs
Do I have to go on strike?
Striking is a personal decision; however, the more of us stand together at the picket line and withhold our labor, the more likely we are to quickly win a fair contract for all of us. Every ASE who joins the strike is directly contributing to our ability to win a strong contract, while each ASE missing from the strike dilutes our ability to pressure UW to adequately meet our needs.
Do I stop going to classes?
The strike is a work stoppage – you should continue to do the “student” part of your life.
I’m on a fellowship! Can I still go on strike?
Yes! Please join your fellow ASEs on the picket line. In the 2023 RSE/postdoc strike, there was no indication that UW shared data on who was striking with external funding agencies. For fellowships that are paid direct – if UW does withhold wages ASE members on fellowship would qualify for strike pay (provided that they meet the requirements for participating in the strike; see “Strike Assistance FAQ”).
Can I go on strike even if I’m not part of the union?
Yes! All ASEs are protected from retaliation in the event of a strike. However, you will not be eligible for strike pay unless you are a member of our union before the strike starts–and joining our union increases our power. The more of us there are, the harder it is for the university to ignore us.
How can I find out if I am currently a union member?
Email uaw4121@uaw4121.org if you are unsure of your membership status!
I am currently working off campus or am out of town for a conference. How do I strike from my current location?
We’ll have opportunities to participate in the picket line virtually!
Do I need to tell my supervisor or PI that I will be striking?
No, but you may individually choose to tell them if they ask, and you can reference these resources for further guidance.
What if my PI or supervisor tells me not to strike or doesn’t support the strike?
Supervisors are not allowed to threaten, intimidate, promise, or spy on (TIPS) employees who are striking or planning on striking. If you believe that your supervisor or PI’s actions toward you or any other ASEs may fall under the category of TIPS, please reach out to our union’s Contract Enforcement Work Group at contractenforcement@uaw4121.org.
Will my health insurance be threatened by going on strike?
To our knowledge, UW has never cut off benefits for striking workers before. So, we consider it very unlikely that they will terminate your GAIP insurance. By signing up for Strike Pay and fulfilling your 20 hr/wk of strike duties, UAW will cover the COBRA costs of extending your insurance. We would expect this to be set-up in the International’s portal long before any change would occur. However, if there is some kind of gap in coverage, hardship funds may be used to be reimburse any additional costs that were incurred by needing to pay for medical care or prescriptions.
Strike Assistance FAQ
How do we get paid during a strike if UW decides to withhold wages?
To be eligible for either strike pay or an award from the hardship fund, a member must participate in 20 hours of strike duties per week. Strike duties entail either:
- Shifts on the picket line (which includes activities like marching, holding signs, handing out flyers, etc.)
- Virtual picketing (which includes activities like phonebanking)
Strike pay includes $500/week and health insurance coverage for 20 hours of strike duties. Your hours and participation are tracked by Strike Captains, and you need to be a member before the strike starts. You can contact strike-support@uaw4121.org if you have questions.
What is included in strike pay?
You can receive $500/week and health insurance coverage administered through the UAW International in the case pay and benefits are withheld. Strike pay will be prorated to $100/day for short strike weeks, like we will experience if we strike on Tuesday, May 14.
To receive strike pay, you must:
- Be a member before the strike starts
- Be employed as an ASE during the strike
- Fulfill strike duties, such as picketing, for 20 hrs/week
All striking members should enroll with UAW strike counselors at the start of the strike. On the first day bring with you:
- Your SSN or other ID
- Bank Routing and Account Information
- Health Insurance Card
You can contact strike-support@uaw4121.org if you have questions.
What is the Hardship Fund?
This is a supplemental fund organized by our local union, funded by donations from community supporters. Funds will be managed by MLK Labor Council, and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be emailed when applications to the fund open.
Members may apply to the hardship fund to cover expenses up to the amount of lost wages minus UAW strike pay (must apply for strike pay first). Non-member supporters who incur financial hardship as a result of strike participation are also eligible to apply to the hardship fund.
Research Assistant (RA) FAQ
My ASE position only affects me! Does the university really care if I go on strike?
Participating in a strike will require all of us to make sacrifices for ourselves and each other in order to achieve a fair contract. While you may think your individual ASE position might only impact you and your work, it is essential to recognize that collective action has a much broader ripple effect. Your participation in the strike can send a powerful message about the importance of fair treatment and equitable working conditions for all members of the UW community. We do this not only for ourselves, but for the future generations of ASEs coming behind us. Furthermore, your research monetarily benefits the university. UW could not be a world-class research institution without your labor, so by refusing to conduct your RA duties, you threaten to hit the university where it hurts – their wallet.
I do research with living things (animals, cell lines, etc.). How can I go on strike without my experiments dying or otherwise coming to to harm?
It’s ultimately the UW’s responsibility to make sure that any basic lab maintenance happens during a strike. However, there are also ways that you can prepare in order to readily continue research after the conclusion of a strike. You can plan in advance with your research groups regarding maintenance of essential, emergency, and sensitive research materials. UW EH&S has a checklist which may serve as a useful guide, and researchers can also guide themselves with the following question: “What is the minimum I need to do in order to not make my life harder after the strike?” You may plan your experiment timing in advance or inform supervisors that you may need to make alternative plans to take care of research subjects.
Teaching Assistant (TA) FAQ
Will it hurt my students to go on strike?
Striking should not affect your students’ grades, but may limit the amount of content that can be covered this quarter. If possible, keep your students informed about the bargaining and strike processes. You should also direct students to the Undergraduates FAQ if they want to learn more and show solidarity!
Is it crossing the picket line to do things like grading or moving class to the picket line?
Yes. Striking involves ceasing all activities related to your paid position. However, you can let your students know that they can join us on the picket line!
Is someone else going to take over my duties while I’m on strike?
The university may try to tell faculty that they have to do your work to minimize the impact on the student experience while you are on strike, but this is not true! Talk to faculty about standing with you in solidarity and not take on your teaching duties.
I’m doing research for class credit in addition to my TA position. Can I/should I continue my research doing the strike?
You should continue to be a student during the strike.
I’m not a TA but teaching is part of my academic role as a Teaching Clerk (TC) or Teaching Intern (TI). Can I still go on strike?
Because TC/TI roles are academic, you would not be protected from retaliation if you were to withhold this labor. However, many TCs and TIs across campus are organizing to find ways to join other ASEs in solidarity! Contact meg.lunn2@gmail.com for opportunities to contribute to the strike while still upholding your academic responsibilities.
Predoctoral Instructor FAQ
Can I even withhold grades? What’s the impact on my students?
Yes – grades can be left as incomplete for a full quarter from when grades are posted. If ASEs withhold grades, it will be because a strike lasts for many weeks, as ASEs will only be striking duties they would normally be performing.
Further details: in the event of a strike, a predoctoral instructor or TA may be striking during a time where they normally would be entering grades. As part of the strike, grades would then not be submitted. Grades at UW can be withheld for up to a full quarter from the conclusion of the class. Our goal is to have a fair contract as soon as possible. It is not uncommon at UW for instructors to post grades a few days late without consequences.
The goal of the strike is to be visible, disruptive, and complete. However, there may be situations where a substantial delay in receiving a grade may jeopardize a students access to housing, funding, and more. In this scenario, we encourage ASEs and students to have a conversation on how to move forward.
International ASE FAQ
Am I allowed to strike if I am an international or undocumented student or scholar?
Yes – International and undocumented workers can participate in union activities, just as domestic workers do.
Am I eligible for strike benefits if I’m an international or undocumented worker?
Yes – Like all other ASEs, you would receive strike pay ($500 per week) from the UAW Strike and Defense fund to mitigate lost wages.