Mother Jones award

UAW Local 4121 wins Mother Jones award

Photos: Local 4121 members on strike, May 15, 2018; Judy Twedt and Sam Sumpter accepting the Mother Jones Award.

UAW Local 4121 was awarded the Mother Jones Award at the Washington State Labor Council Convention in Wenatchee last week.  Traditionally, two awards are given – one to an individual and one to an organization – to workers that best exemplify the tradition of Mary “Mother” Jones’ immortal statement, “Mourn for the dead, and fight like hell for the living!”

This year, two organizational awards went to workers at the University of Washington, where the current administration has been trying to remedy their financial mismanagement by pushing the burden down onto the backs of its workers.  

UAW Local 4121 won the Mother Jones award for the unionization efforts by UW Postdocs, who voted to unionize in April, along with the Academic Student Employees’ (ASEs) powerful one-day strike, where over 2000 workers struck over stalled negotiations concerning equity issues.  

UW Laundry workers, represented by WFSE 3488, won the Mother Jones award for their fight against UW’s efforts to shut down and privatize their work.  

The UW unions coalition has fought together to hold the UW accountable.  As multiple union are currently in negotiations, including UW Postdocs for their first contract, the fight for equity and an inclusive workplace continues.