Help win appointment extensions!

Nation-wide momentum is gathering around the urgent call to increase funding for higher education and research, including for international students and scholars, among the COVID-19 crisis. We began bargaining over this issue with UW administration last week, and you can find a summary of that session here. There are two key ways you can help continue building the kind of power we’ll need to make movement on this issue:

1. TAKE 2 MINS TO WRITE CONGRESS: One important way you can support this call is by writing to Congress using this form that will take you through a few easy steps to send a message to your representative. This is a critical component of our campaign to win appointment extensions for ASEs and Postdocs at UW, so please take two minutes today to submit your letter!
2. TAKE 1 MIN TO SIGN THE PETITION: Our petition to UW admin is still open, so take 1 minute now to sign on if you haven’t already!

As a reminder, our next membership meeting will be tomorrow, Thursday 4/9 from 5:00-6:00pm, and will be conducted via Zoom. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend, and anyone who is not yet a member can sign up here beforehand. The proposed agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• Approve Agenda
• Approve Minutes
• Bargaining Updates & Actions
• Steward & Organizing Trainings
• Elections Committee
• Housing Justice Working Group – Tax Amazon
• 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 post on our website. If you have any specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out at uaw4121@uaw4121.org.

Steward and Organizer Training Series

UAW 4121 will be conducting training sessions in order for stewards and organizers to learn more about how to organize effectively and feel empowered to build the community and strength we need to be successful in our organizing efforts, particularly in these difficult times. These trainings are perfect for both stewards and anyone who’s interested in learning more about organizing through our union. to receive Zoom links for the sessions you’d like to attend:

• Session 1: 1-to-1 Organizing, Thursday 5/28, 12-1:30. This session focuses on the nuts and bolts of one-to-one organizing, such as talking to our colleagues about membership and other organizing efforts we pursue as a union. All are welcome!
• Session 2: Empowering Prevention and Inclusive Communities, 6/4, 12-1:30. This session takes an intersectional approach to understanding and organizing around sexual harassment, and building community in our departments.
• Session 3: Power Analysis, Thursday, 6/11, 12-1:30. This session explores the nature and sources of our power as a union, and how we can leverage that power in order to push for change. This session is intended for people who have at least some experience with 1-to-1 organizing.

Learn more about the sessions and RSVP here:

Changes to Title IX Regulations

Last year, members of our Local and academic unions across the country submitted tens of thousands of public comments opposing proposed changes to the Title IX process that would weaken protections for survivors in the Title IX investigation and response process. Despite this widespread opposition, last week, the Department of Education issued the final version of these Title IX regulations, slated to take effect in August. We are proud to be part of a strong nationwide coalition of academic unions taking action against all forms of sexual harassment in academia, including by winning critical rights and protections in our contracts, and will continue working to oppose attempts to weaken Title IX. There will likely still be opportunities to take action to challenge these changes, so be on the lookout for future updates with information about how you can help! Please also note that our contracts include strong protections against all forms of harassment, discrimination, and abuse, so if you have any concerns or questions, please get in touch with contractenforcement@uaw4121.org right away.

Phonebanking for Tax Amazon

Each Saturday from now until May 30th, a group of 4121 members will join the Tax Amazon phone bank. We’ll be calling other 4121 members about signing the petition to put the Tax Amazon Initiative onto the ballot for next Fall. RSVP now!

In solidarity,

UAW 4121 Joint Council
Tina Angerer
Douglas Avella-Castro
Leandro Casiraghi
Monica Cortés Viharo
Meg Drouhard
Max Friedfeld
Vern Harner
Dan Hart
Sam Kastner
Kyle Kubler
Kristin McCowan
Emily Myers
Anzela Niraula
Jacob O’Connor
Nayon Park
Marissa Parker
David Parsons
Cristian Proistosescu
Shua Sanchez
Paige Sechrest
Solmaz Shakerifard
Sam Sumpter
Judy Twedt
Jon Witt