3/23/20 COVID-19 Updates & Resources
In an effort to keep Academic Student Employees (ASEs) and Postdocs continually updated about our rights, protections, and resources during the rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic, the Health & Safety working group has developed a number of resources for members that will be continually updated as we make progress on various issues:
As of right now, here are a few key updates:
- Stay Home Order: This evening, Governor Jay Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for Washington State. This means that everyone should stay home except for essential purposes. You should have received written notice from UW if your job is considered “essential”, and can find more information about what counts as essential work at UW on the HR Suspended Operations page. If you need help strategizing ways to communicate with your PI/Chair/Supervisor, reach out to your union rep immediately or write to contractenforcement@uaw4121.org so that you can work with an elected representative to ensure that your safety needs are met. We will update you ASAP should any changes or refinements to this new order take place.
- Appointment Security: Our contract is very clear — all appointments that have already been accepted cannot be taken away. Job duties may be altered given the new guidance, but regardless of any changes made to your job duties, your pay and benefits must be commensurate with your original appointment. This includes hour reductions for hourly employees. UW admin has already issued guidance to departments consistent with these protections, but if you have any concerns or issues please get in touch with contractenforcement@uaw4121.org right away.
- Online Instruction: All classes have been moved online for the Spring Quarter. Please get in touch with contractenforcement@uaw4121.org if you have not received adequate support or guidance from your department/supervisor about the transition to remote instruction, or if you have concerns about your workload.
- Campus Buildings: All UW classroom and lab buildings should now be locked to non-employees as if it were a weekend or holiday in order to encourage social distancing.
Research & timeline disruptions: Join the discussion
UW has recently taken action to waive the 2019-20 academic year from the mandatory promotion clock for faculty, an important decision that recognizes how disruption of research impacts faculty careers. However, a number of members have expressed concern that the UW has not yet taken similar action — or communication has been unclear — for student timelines, including on issues of degree completion and degree milestones, appointment length, and related issues.
In order to better establish the specific needs of members, please join a Zoom discussion on Thursday 3/26 at 10am so that we can begin strategizing how to push the university to address these issues. For more information and to receive the link to the Zoom call, please email health-safety@uaw4121.org.
Stay in touch & get involved
If you have any issues, questions, or concerns not addressed here, please email contractenforcement@uaw4121.org right away for support. If you are interested in getting more involved in our Local’s work to address COVID-related impacts and support needs, please email health-safety@uaw4121.org!
In solidarity,
UAW 4121 Joint Council
Tina Angerer
Douglas Avella-Castro
Leandro Casiraghi
Monica Cortés Viharo
Meg Drouhard
Max Friedfeld
Vern Harner
Dan Hart
Sam Kastner
Kyle Kubler
Kristin McCowan
Emily Myers
Anzela Niraula
Jacob O’Connor
Nayon Park
Marissa Parker
David Parsons
Cristian Proistosescu
Shua Sanchez
Paige Sechrest
Solmaz Shakerifard
Sam Sumpter
Judy Twedt
Jon Witt
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