Membership meeting tomorrow
As a reminder, our next membership meeting will be tomorrow, Thursday 11/12 from 5-6pm via Zoom. RSVP here for the Zoom information. Everyone is encouraged to login 5-10 minutes early to help expedite the check-in process. The proposed agenda for the meeting is as follows:
- Approve agenda
- Approve minutes
- Ongoing & upcoming organizing
- Postdoc bargaining
- Academic Student Employee bargaining
- US national election response
- UAW 4121 Elections Committee
- Workgroup events
- Adjourn
All members in good standing are encouraged to attend, and anyone who is not yet a member can sign up here beforehand.
Third Thursday Anti-Discrimination Workshops
What: Anti-Discrimination Working Group workshops “Handling Microaggressions as a TA” at 5:30pm and “Departmental Organizing” at 6:30pm PST
When: Thurs 11/19 (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.
Postdoc Bargaining Update Meeting
As Postdocs continue the bargaining process, we will convene a Postdoc bargaining update meeting on Monday, November 16th at 4:30pm. Please RSVP here and an organizer will follow up with Zoom info.
Election Response — The Work Continues
This weekend brought historic news as our country voted in a new President and Vice President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. However, as the situation has continued to unfold over the last few days, it’s clear that this fight is not yet finalized. While Trump’s legal challenges are mostly failing, the Trump Administration continues to make concerning moves, including replacing senior officials in the Department of Defense with Trump loyalists, and continuing to refute the clear will of voters — all while GOP leadership remains largely silent and complicit. As union members, we must be ready to use our power to unite in mass protests, up to and including general strikes, to ensure the will of the people is enforced. Our Election Response Workgroup is continuing to monitor the situation and prepare to mobilize if needed to avert a coup.
Further, our work does not end with this election as our path towards a more equitable future is far from over. Even with a Biden presidency, we urgently need to keep organizing for the needs of working and oppressed people, including fighting for universal healthcare, a Green New Deal, and police accountability.
For more information and action opportunities, check out the Election Response Action & Resource Center, and to get involved, fill out this short form.
Washington State Wins Big in 2020
After what feels like months waiting for election results, we have several big wins both at the federal and state level. While we are still waiting for final ballot counts, King County is on track to reach over 90% voter turnout and passed funding to expand Harborview Medical Center, increase police accountability at the county level, and fund public transportation in Seattle.
Across the state, several of our endorsed candidates won seats in incredibly tough races and next year’s WA legislature will be the most diverse and progressive it’s ever been. In the Senate, T’wina Nobles, who is a champion for education, unseated the incumbent Steve O’Ban in the 28th LD (Tacoma) and will be the only Black member of the WA Senate. On the House side, Kirsten Harris-Talley won her seat in the 37th LD (South Seattle & Renton) and David Hackney defeated Zack Hudgins in the 11th LD (South Seattle, Tukwila, Renton), giving Olympia a strong voice for renters and a champion for housing justice. As we wait for final counts, keep an eye on Senate candidate Ingrid Anderson, a union nurse, in LD 5 who trails incumbent and corporate Democrat Mark Mullet by only 78 votes as of Monday. UAW 4121 members spent over 120 hours turning out voters in these races, in addition to calling union families in GA, PA, and AZ. With these narrow margins it’s clear that every vote matters.
If you’re interested in getting involved in our union’s political work, email political@uaw4121.org.
Housing Justice Working Group
Today, Wednesday, November 11th at 6pm, the Housing Justice Workgroup will be co-hosting a Tenant Rights Bootcamp with Be:Seattle. Please RSVP here! The Tenant Rights Bootcamp is a workshop that will give you all the information you need to know about your rights as a tenant in Seattle: everything from moving in, during your tenancy, moving out, and fighting evictions. Join us at this important event and learn how to assert your rights! Find out more about Be:Seattle’s Bootcamps here. Again, you can RSVP here to join on November 11th!
In an effort to get a better sense of how COVID-19 is affecting UAW 4121 members’ housing stability, our Housing Justice Working Group has also 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.
Kshama Solidarity Campaign
Come out this Saturday 11AM at Pratt Park to knock doors in District 3 with the Kshama Solidarity Campaign! This campaign is working to defend socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant from a right-wing, billionaire-financed recall campaign. Kshama has consistently been one of our strongest elected allies in Seattle, and has used her council office to stand unwaveringly in solidarity with movements like the Tax Amazon movement and the Black Lives Matter movement, not to mention standing with our union’s bargaining efforts on campus. Last month our union’s Joint Council passed a resolution in support of the campaign, and all members who can are encouraged to volunteer.
Attention Postdoc Caregivers!
The Postdoc Family Friendly Working Group (familyfriendly@uaw4121.org) has finalized a reimbursement system for the $30,000 Postdocs 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.
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
