General Election Endorsements
Check out our 2020 General Election Endorsements here.
In addition to the presidential election, the 2020 General Election features critical races in Washington state that will determine how we move forward and address the intersecting crises of public health, climate, racial justice, and the economy. UAW members across the country are massively mobilizing to contact voters and ensure our candidates win on Nov 3rd. You can join fellow UAW members in getting out the vote by signing up here.
Through our Political Work Group, UAW 4121 members assembled questionnaires, reviewed candidate responses and their records on our core issues, and conducted several candidate interviews. The result is a strong slate of candidates that, if elected, will fight for issues most important to us.
The deadline to register online to vote or change your address (and still receive a mail-in ballot) is October 26th! Ballots will start arriving on October 16th, and ballot drop boxes close promptly at 8 pm on the 3rd of November.
Attention Postdoc Caregivers!
The Family Friendly Working Group (familyfriendly@uaw4121.org) has finalized a reimbursement system for the $30,000 we won for caregivers in our first contract. Funds will be distributed in December for postdoc caregivers who have worked at UW anytime from January through December of 2020. Please fill out this form by November 15th to be considered for reimbursement. Eligibility and amounts given will be need-based and determined after all responses are collected.
Participate in DHS Public Comments against Proposed Visa Changes
Your participation is needed to roll back a proposed DHS rule that will harm international ASEs and Postdocs. The rule change will impose arbitrary limits on the duration of international student/scholar visas, and create additional complications that are clearly designed to discourage entry to and work in the U.S. For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about this proposed rule and other information particularly relevant for international students/scholars, please check out this page.
Submit a comment here to DHS in support of UW’s international scholars. In addition, our International Solidarity Workgroup will be drafting an institutional comment on behalf of UAW 4121, and please attend our weekly meetings Monday at 5:30pm in order to participate. The deadline for submitting comments is October 26th. Please take action today!
Additionally, Last Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed another interim rule regarding H1B visas that poses a threat to international scholars and students. If you are a Postdoc or ASE on an H1B visa AND a member of the union, you can rest assured that this rule does not affect you. Conversely, if you know of any Postdocs or ASEs on an H1B visa who is NOT a union member, please encourage them to get in touch with us right away at intl-workgroup@uaw4121.org so that they are not impacted negatively by this interim rule.
Anti-Discrimination Training TODAY
What: Anti-Discrimination Working Group workshop “How to Call in and Get Called in”
When: TODAY – Thurs 10/15 at 5:30pm (and every third Thursday!)
How to join: RSVP at www.tiny.cc/antidiscrim
UAW 4121’s Anti-Discrimination Working Group is offering a series of workshops that hope to go beyond the basics of anti-discrimination 101 trainings. These modules are intended to empower Academic Student Employees (ASEs) and Postdocs with the tools to reflect on, grow, and develop their anti-discrimination practice in order to influence change within themselves and promote a more inclusive, equitable and just place for us to learn and work.
Workshops will be offered monthly via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month to all ASEs and Postdocs. UW students who aren’t ASEs are also warmly welcome. Some months will offer modules at both the foundational and advanced levels in order to meet the diverse needs of the audience. These 60-minute workshops are designed to offer a balance of learning, discussion, and Q&A. Today’s workshop is How to Call in and Get Called in. You can visit this page on our website for a full description of the workshop and the next three months’ offerings. Please RSVP at www.tiny.cc/antidiscrim.
Kshama Solidarity Campaign and People’s Budget Town Hall
All of our members are burdened by high rent and police brutality, for an injury to one is an injury to all. That is why we fought for and won a tax on big business as part of the Tax Amazon coalition, to build permanently affordable social housing throughout Seattle and in the Central District. That is why we kicked the Seattle Police Officers Guild out of the King County Labor Council, as part of the SPOG OUT coalition. That is why we are still pushing to Defund SPD by at least 50%, because Black Lives Matter.
It is absolutely disgusting that Durkan’s big business backers are trying to remove Kshama Sawant — a uniquely consistent fighter for the Amazon Tax, Defund SPD, and our union — from the City Council.
We must stand up to Mayor Durkan, defend our Councilmember, and demand a budget that works for working people, not big business. Join the Housing Justice Workgroup at these critical events:
Reminder: Housing Justice Working Group Poll
In an effort to get a better sense of how COVID-19 is affecting our members’ housing stability, the UAW 4121 Housing Justice Working Group has created this quick poll. Please take a minute today to fill it out, and email housing-justice@uaw4121.org for more information and to get involved.
In solidarity,
Douglas Avella-Castro
Leandro Casiraghi
Amanda Clouser
Monica Cortés Viharo
Max Friedfeld
Vern Harner
Dan Hart
Amzi Jeffs
Sam Kastner
Kyle Kubler
Kristin McCowan
Emily Myers
Anzela Niraula
Jacob O’Connor
Elena Pandres
Nayon Park
Marissa Parker
David Parsons
Shua Sanchez
Paige Sechrest
Solmaz Shakerifard
Sam Sumpter
Judy Twedt
