Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Dear Colleague,
Membership – Join your Colleagues and Sign Up
We are saying it clearly and often: join your colleagues and sign up for membership now. Enforcing our contract and winning more is a direct function of super-majority membership. There will be information tables at least once a week this fall. This week, come by today, Sept 3rd from 12-1pm in the South Campus Center at the Plaza Cafe Atrium Espresso, and Thurs Sept 5th from 12-1pm in the Suzzallo Library Room 102. If you want to sign up or ask questions but cannot get to any of these locations, email uwpostdocsunited@gmail.com and an organizer will meet with you.
U-PASS & Transportation
Some Postdocs are receiving U-PASS related paycheck deductions in multiples of $2.50 (weirdly). We are working to resolve this issue with Labor Relations. If you are receiving any charge, please reach out immediately.
Additionally, the Seattle Transit Riders Union is launching an “ORCA for All Campaign” on Wed Sept 11, an effort to ensure that Seattle downtown employers cover at least 50% of the cost of ORCA passes for all workers. While our contract guarantees a free U-PASS, the same is not true for all UW employees, and Postdocs will be participating in this city-wide effort. Fighting for free public transportation is a key climate justice issue.
International Postdocs: Webinar on Navigating US Visas
The National Postdoc Association (NPA) is hosting a webinar with important information for international Postdocs. Learn about self-sponsored applications, J-1 waivers and other visas, such as the F1 (OPT) and J-1 visas (including J1 waivers), and H-1B/O-1/TN. You must be an NPA member to sign up for this webinar – Postdocs at UW receive free NPA membership.
Sign the Petition: Support Fair Overtime Standards
Important and long-overdue updates to statewide wage/overtime standards are being considered by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries right now. Read more about the new proposed changes here, and sign the petition to support wage increases for 400,000 salaried employees.
Mobilization works: In 2016, the Department of Labor made changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act, resulting in the NIH Postdoc payscale immediately increasing from $43,692/year to $47,476/year. Unionized academic employees’ concerted union advocacy and political engagement led to higher salaries for thousands of Postdocs around the country and millions of other workers. Sign the current Washington state overtime standard petition now.
In solidarity,
The UW Postdocs United / UAW 4121 Bargaining Committee:
Tina Angerer, Bioengineering
Pamela Baker, Biological Structure
Leandro Casiraghi, Biology
Matthew Crane, Chemistry
Ivan Cruz, Biological Structure
Marina Dütsch, Earth and Space Sciences
Max Friedfeld, Chemistry
Kelly Hines, Medicinal Chemistry
Hannah Horowitz, Atmospheric Sciences
Ajay Jajodia, Medical Genetics
Andrew Jenkins, Chemistry
Jiae Lee, Biochemistry
Michael Mack, Chemistry
Kim Meier, Psychology
Kelly Patton, Physics
Cristi Proistosescu, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean
Abdul Basit Shaikh, Pharmaceutics
Michael Taylor, Bioengineering
Jian Wang, Chemistry
Huajun Xu, Chemistry