Membership meeting tomorrow at 5pm
Our first membership meeting of the academic year will be tomorrow, Thursday 10/8 from 5-6pm via Zoom. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend, and anyone who is not yet a member can sign up here beforehand. Everyone is encouraged to login five minutes early to help expedite the check-in process. The proposed agenda for the meeting is as follows:
- Approve Agenda
- Approve Minutes
- 2019-2020 Organizing Summary
- 2021 Contract Negotiations: Basics & Discussion
- Workgroups and Upcoming Local Campaigns
- Elect a New Elections Committee
- Adjourn
There are two ways you can join the Zoom meeting: either by using the app/web browser for voice and video, or by calling in for voice only. To access the link and/or call-in number, please fill out this short form. For more information about how the meeting will be structured and how you can use Zoom’s features to participate, check out this page on our website. If you have any specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out at uaw4121@uaw4121.org.
Additionally, we will be electing a new Elections Committee at the meeting. All members in good standing are automatically nominated for the Elections Committee, and you can accept nomination by emailing uaw4121@uaw4121.org before the meeting, or by voice at the meeting.
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.
Submit Comments Against Proposed Visa Changes
In coordination with UAW academic locals across the country, International Solidarity Workgroup (ISW) members recently organizing an information session with Stacey Gartland, an immigration and nationality lawyer, on proposed changes to F and J visas. If you are interested in watching the session you can view it on Facebook.
A main takeaway is that public comments really have an effect, because each comment needs to be responded to in some way. It is especially helpful when the comments are different, not based on a template, and refer to a specific point of the proposal. If the proposal cannot be passed through discussion by December 20th it will likely fail and if it cannot be finalized by January 20th it could be overturned, pending election results.
The ISW has put together this template for public comments — please take a few minutes today to submit one! Note that DHS must respond to the comments that they receive and thus it is very helpful to submit comments. If possible, please edit the template to personalize your comments.
Anti-Discrimination Working Group
Members of the Anti-Discrimination Working Group are taking action for equity and anti-racism through three main subgroups. To get involved with any of this work, please fill out this contact form and an organizer will follow up with you soon!
- The Department Organizing & Mobilization subgroup is developing tools and support for those looking to take action in their departments. The subgroup uses power mapping to find where gaps and strengths in organizing towards equity exist across different departments. Additionally, this group focuses on rapid mobilization for protests and other events, and coordinates with broader movements at UW and in Seattle, including the Coalition to Decriminalize UW and efforts to Defund SPD.
- The Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) Committees subgroup is working on building a toolkit that will be designed to help guide those looking to start a DEI group in their own department as well as to help existing DEI groups better organize and navigate common obstacles.
- The Membership Education subgroup is working to produce a series of anti-discrimination modules for UAW 4121 members which go beyond the basic “anti-discrimination 101” trainings frequently seen across campus. Mark your calendars — these workshops will be held every Third Thursday in the evening, starting next week on Thursday 10/15!
- Black Caucus: In addition to these subgroups, Black ASEs and Postdocs are invited to join the Black Caucus by emailing black-caucus@uaw4121.org.
Postdocs – Bargaining Survey Reminder
The 2020 Postdoc Bargaining Survey is now live, so all Postdocs, please take a minute and have your voice heard! The Bargaining Survey is a crucial way for Postdocs to share what priorities we can work to improve through the collective bargaining process when bargaining begins. (ASEs, please note that the ASE Bargaining Survey will be coming later this quarter.)
Taking Action for Health Coverage for ALL Postdocs
On Friday, Postdocs and supporters rallied to call attention to important healthcare disparities among Postdocs at UW. It was an amazing showing of solidarity from all those who attended the rally and who took remote action to change this UW policy regarding paid-direct Postdoc health insurance. Please email pdhealthcare@uaw4121.org to get more 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
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