Orientations
Welcome new UAW 4121 members! Over 850 new Academic Student Employees signed up for membership at department and hiring unit orientations these past two weeks, at a rate of nearly 90%. In addition 150 people indicated an interest in getting even more involved in the union. Thank you to everyone who presented to your departments and helped explain the importance of strong membership and getting involved int the union – what a great start to the year!
Social
Hope to see you tonight (10/1) at Big Time! Have a free drink, share some snacks and get to know other union members – new and returning – this evening from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Help spread the word on facebook.
October Membership Meeting
Our next monthly membership meeting will take place next Thursday, 10/8 at 5pm in Gowen 201. We’ll discuss current projects and hear reports from work groups, as well as discuss ways in which members are working to build power and enforce their rights under the contract. We’ll also elect a new election committee consisting of up to seven (7) members and one (1) alternate, which is responsible for overseeing all Local votes for the coming year. All members are automatically nominated for the Election Committee, and may accept nomination any time before 5:30 p.m. on 10/8/15. We will vote immediately after close of nominations, and the highest runner up will be the alternate. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend, and as always children are welcome and new members may sign up to join the union at the meeting.
Also Upcoming in October
Friday, October 2: Radical History Tour: Join Disorientation for a walking tour through UW’s campus and feature a counter-narrative perspective of the university’s history. UW’s founding on occupied Duwamish land, student Civil Rights and activism, labor struggles, and McCarthyism and the Red Scare, are a few of the many topics explored during the tour.
Wednesday, October 14th: People’s Climate March: UAW members and other UW students will join a diverse coalition of communities of color, workers, immigrants, activists and everyday folk on October 14 as we build upon last year’s wildly successful People’s Climate March in New York to send a message that will be heard from Seattle to Paris: Our communities are united in the fight against climate change. Naomi Klein will be speaking about her new project: http://
Thursday, October 15th: Defend International Student Rights: #weareworkers! On October 15th we will hold a forum to discuss the possible impacts of a recent court ruling that reduced the Optional Training Program (OPT) – an important employment opportunity for international students. An attorney will be present to help us understand the implications of the rule change, and we’ll make a plan of action to push rule-makers to re-establish and improve the OPT rules. We’ll hold this event on the same day that academic student employees across the country take action to assert that #weareworkers and deserve the same rights and treatment as any other employee. Check out our facebook event page and spread the word.