Calls to Action
Call to ALL members (including non-citizens!) for five minutes of your time. This year in Washington state, there are 4 bills working their way that expand the rights of workers that need our support!
Three of these bills expand access to unions, by giving more student employees the right to collectively bargain, making it more accessible to sign a union authorization card, and by removing some of the burden on employees to hold their employer accountable and bargain fair contracts with access to unemployment insurance during strikes, including for newly forming unions!
The fourth bill is an expansion to health care coverage for fertility care that UW told ASEs in 2021 we could only have after other state employees in Washington. Let’s get equitable fertility healthcare coverage in Washington!
For each of these bills you can help by following the link and leaving a comment in pro of the bill. The comment can be as simple as “I like this bill!” or if you have a personal story you’re willing to share of how passing the bill would impact you or someone close, these are extremely powerful.
If you have any questions, or are interested in getting involved by organizing those working in government to represent us while in office, please reach out to political@uaw4121.org!
Local 4121 Announcements
Monthly Membership Meeting
Our monthly membership meetings are the 2nd Thursday of the month at 5pm. Mark your calendar, our next meeting is February 8th at 5pm on Zoom, and RSVP here for the February membership meeting. The proposed agenda is as follows:
- Approve agenda
- Approve minutes
- Organizing updates
- Start of ASE bargaining
- Local budget
- Elections for new stewards
- Working group and conference updates
- Adjourn
Academic Student Employees – Bargaining is almost here
ASE Bargaining is right around the corner and as ASEs, each of us can participate. Please fill out this form to indicate how you would like to be involved.
Postdocs and Research Scientists – Strike Assistance Fund Tax Documents
All RSEs and Postdocs that received a Strike Assistance payment through the UAW Strike Portal as part of the Postdoc/RSE strike can access tax information (1099-MISC) form via Portal (using the login information set up during the strike). If you don’t remember your login info, or need help accessing the Portal, please contact UAW International at: 313-926-5406 or UAWStrikeAssistance@uaw.net. Note: This only applies to payments distributed through the UAW Strike Portal – not any paper checks received from the Hardship Fund; if you received money from the hardship fund, this is considered a gift and there is no tax form provided.
Postdoc Pay Increase – Check Your Paycheck
The minimum salary for Postdoctoral Scholars and Fellows increased by 4.5% to $68,460 January 1. If you did not get this pay increase (it should show up on your 1/25 paycheck), or if you were recently moved into an overtime-nonexempt (hours-tracking) role, please reach out to contractenforcement@uaw4121.
Slack
Reminder that we have a Slack workspace for all 4121 members! You can join by filling out this form.
Local 4121 Meetings, Events, Trainings
Organizing 101
Our union is made up of members and it is only through organizing our colleagues that we can build a strong community of colleagues to win and enforce strong contracts. Increasing our organizing power is critical since ASEs are back at the bargaining table in the beginning of 2024.
If you are someone who talks with your colleagues about department or university happenings, then good news, you are already doing the work of organizing! Please join an upcoming Organizing 101 training in February or March to enhance your skills or learn how to get started.
RSVP HERE to attend a training with colleagues from across the ASE, Postdoc, and RSE units! There are several sessions scheduled for this quarter.
Beyond UW
We are part of a movement in higher ed, here are the updates from this past week:
- Indiana University graduate workers are fighting for union recognition.
- On Monday, faculty and academic professionals at Portland Community College reached a tentative agreement on a new contract
- Residents and Fellows at Northwestern voted to form a union