International Workers’ Day — Take Action!
This Friday May 1st is International Workers’ Day — join fellow 4121 members and our broader labor community for a packed schedule of actions and events:
10am-5pm: Day of Action for Appointment Extensions!
Friday will be a critical day of action to build power towards winning appointment extensions for Academic Student Employees and Postdocs at UW. There are 4 key ways you can participate:
- Sign the Petition: Take 1 minute now to sign onto the petition if you haven’t already, and share it with others in your department.
- Write Congress: Take a few minutes to write your Congressional representative urging them to increase funding for higher education. This form will take you through a few easy steps to send your letter!
- Share Your Support: Help build visibility for these issues by posting a picture of yourself on Twitter/Facebook and tagging @UAW4121, and we will retweet/share. Here are some template signs you can print or replicate for your photo! Use the hashtags #HigherEdWorksBecauseWeDo and #MayDay2020.
- Reach Out To Fellow Members: Our Appointments Working Group will be holding phonebanks all day, talking to fellow union members in our own departments to build participation on these issues. Members across UW are signing up for 1- and 2-hour phonebanking shifts — email appointments@uaw4121.org to get involved!
10:30am: National Higher Ed Coalition Teach-In: Organizing Multistage Campaigns for Appointment Extensions
Join UAW 4121 members and University Workers for a Fair Future, a coalition of academic workers from across the country, for a teach-in about organizing in higher ed! UAW 4121 members will be leading this teach-in on various efforts members of our union have been taking to build power for ASEs, Postdocs, and other workers at UW in response to impacts of the COVID crisis. This will be a great opportunity to connect with grad students, Postdocs, and contingent faculty from universities across the United States. RSVP here for information on how to join the Zoom meeting!
11am-4pm: Caravan to Olympia for Excluded Immigrant Workers
El Comité, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, and a coalition of other immigration and labor organizations are hosting a caravan to demand that Washington State establish unemployment funds for undocumented immigrants and others currently excluded from unemployment benefits. The car caravan will leave St. Mary’s Church at 11am, and those who aren’t able to join by car are encouraged to participate in a virtual action. More information on the Facebook page (in English / en Español), and register at this form!
1pm: Organizing and Advocating for Safety in the Time of COVID-19: Know Your Rights at UW!
Is my research essential or should I stay home? Can my advisor require me to come in? How can I talk to faculty about protecting my health and safety? What are the university’s guidelines?
Join fellow UAW 4121 members for a webinar about how to navigate research in the time of COVID-19. Hear from organizers who have taken action in their departments, their tips on talking to PIs, learn about your rights, and learn how to advocate for our collective health and safety. There will be time to ask questions, but you’re encouraged to submit your questions now! Register and submit questions here.
1pm: Thinking the Pandemic: Capital or Life
Join Red May for a discussion with Asad Haider, Cinzia Arruzza, Michael Hardt, Rodrigo Nunes, and Sarah Mason about what’s next for building a powerful working class movement. For more info and to join via YouTube, check out the Red May schedule of events.
2pm: May Day: System in Crisis — A Working-Class Vision for the Future
Labor Notes will be hosting a powerful discussion with Stacy Davis Gates, Sara Nelson, and Sarah Jaffee on the need to organize a strong working class response to the COVID crisis. For more information and to register, visit the event page.
Tax Amazon Phonebanking
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 |
