In their first few weeks in office, the Trump Administration issued a barrage of Executive Orders targeting academic workers across the country. From freezing funding for crucial research work in the public good to threatening international scholars, unleashing hateful policies on trans and nonbinary rights, and more, these Executive Orders are direct attacks on us as workers and the broader academic labor movement. We call out these attacks for what they truly are – attempts to sow hate and division to disempower workers and serve the greed of billionaires.
Now is the time to take action. Fill out this form to share how recent policy updates have impacted you and get connected with member-led workgroups on contract enforcement, federal funding freeze organizing, international & undocumented worker rights, and more.
Taking collective action to stand up for our rights is fundamental to how we build power as a union and fight back. Just in the last week, UAW 4121 members:
- Coordinated a nationwide phonebank with UAW 2750 (NIH researchers), UAW 4811 (UC academic workers), AAUP-AFT, CWA, and Higher Ed Labor United to demand lifting funding freezes, which led to access to the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Award Cash Management Service (ACM$) being restored on Sunday & the National Institute of Health (NIH) funding freeze being eased
- Joined our UAW Region 6 Political Action Committee to raise $2000 in recurring monthly donations to fight for the rights of academic workers, and launch a working group to strategize around how to best ensure the safety of our transgender members
- Participated in a Region-wide action to urge our legislators to oppose HR 28, which would change Title IX to define gender as sex assigned at birth, codifying discrimination against transgender athletes
Academic workers from coast to coast taking action to demand that the funding freezes be lifted immediately
As we have done throughout our union’s history, we fight for a more just and sustainable future for all with the knowledge that we are stronger together. Through strengthening our organizing structures, forging coalitions with other unions and progressive organizations, and building worker power across the broader labor movement, we defeated previous attempts to enact racist and xenophobic travel bans, tax graduate workers’ tuition stipends, curtail graduate workers’ rights to form unions, and more. And we will win again.
This page on the Local’s website will be regularly updated with resources and calls to action. If you are a UAW 4121 member navigating issues in your workplace or have questions, reach out to uaw4121@uaw4121.org or fill out this form, and a fellow worker will follow up with you.