Monday, March 4, 2019
Dear Colleague,
Take the equity survey
Comprehensive data strengthens our bargaining positions for strong discrimination protections. The equity survey combines our collective voice on issues endemic in academia such as gender harassment, microaggressions and bullying. The survey will close soon, and we will share the results (anonymously, of course). Please click here to take the survey.
Postdoc Bargaining Update
On Tuesday, we reached a tentative agreement on layoffs ensuring that Postdocs cannot be laid off within the first year of appointments or reappointment, and only due to a lack of funding. Postdocs must receive at least 60 days notice of termination, and can request information and grieve about the cause. You can read all current proposals and tentative agreements by . Our next bargaining date is scheduled for March 7th.
Postdocs are holding department meetings throughout campus to discuss these bargaining proposals, and plan to win our first contract. To host a meeting in your area, email and a member of the bargaining committee will be in contact.
State Legislative Session Update
There are a number of exciting bills working their way through the state legislature, and we are working closely with elected officials on many of these. Here are some highlights. To learn more about where other pro-workers bills stand in Olympia, .
KEEP WASHINGTON WORKING —, would establish a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace, and ensure their access to state services.
EVICTION REFORM — / , would extend the eviction “pay or vacate” notice period from three days. HB 1453 would extend the period to 21 days and SB 5600 would extend the period to 14 days. Both bills would give judges more discretion to consider the tenant’s situation in an eviction case.
STUDENT LOAN RELIEF & REFORM ACT —, would create a state student loan refinancing program, a state-managed loan refinancing program to offer better loan terms and conditions for borrowers, and create an income share agreement (ISA) pilot program.
PATHWAY TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE — / , would set the table for universal health care while work is done for the Congressional passage of the State-Based Universal Health Care Act.
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL (HEAL) ACT —/ HB 2009, creates a definition of environmental justice, directing agencies to address environmental health disparities, and creating a task force to recommend strategies for state agencies to incorporate environmental justice principles into their responsibilities.
100% CLEAN ENERGY — SB 5116 / HB 1211, would transition all electric utilities away from coal-fired power by 2026 and would make all retail sales of electricity greenhouse gas neutral by Jan. 1, 2030. A committee amendment to this bill reflects that tax incentives are tied to important labor standards like prevailing wage, apprenticeship utilization, preferred hire for women- and minority-owned businesses. Also, higher rebates are available for signing a project labor or community workforce agreements.
CLEAN BUILDINGS FOR WASHINGTON ACT — / HB 1257, aims to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases, and create jobs by making buildings healthier places to live and work.
In solidarity,
The UW Postdocs United / UAW 4121 Bargaining Committee
Tina Angerer, Bioengineering
Pamela Baker, Biological Structure
Matthew Crane, Chemistry
Marina Dütsch, Earth and Space Sciences
Max Friedfeld, Chemistry
Hannah Horowitz, Atmospheric Sciences
Megan Ivory, Physics
Ajay Jajodia, Medical Genetics
Andrew Jenkins, Chemistry
Michael Mack, Chemistry
Kelly Patton, Physics
Cristi Proistosescu, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean
Abdul Basit Shaikh, Pharmaceutics
Thomas Smith, Medical Genetics
Michael Taylor, Bioengineering
Jian Wang, Chemistry
Alex White, Psychology
Huajun Xu, Chemistry