This Valentine’s Day, forget the gimmicks. Lose the cliches. Ditch the annoying pre-text. With UAW4121, you don’t have a “secret admirer;” you’ve got an unabashed, loyal, transparent, and responsive partner – actually you’ve got ~8,000 partners and growing! Together, UAW4121 members stand side-by-side through thick and thin, endeavoring to always strengthen our invaluable relationships… and it’s clearly working: fellow union member, Gioia, specifically wrote this “union loveletter” in order to share their gratitude with you:
“I’m Gioia, an Academic Student Employee (ASE) and Teaching Assistant in UW’s School of Public Health, and proud member of UAW4121. I want to share my story of how the strength of my fellow union members supported me. Recently, I accepted a 50% FTE position for the 2026 winter quarter. However, soon after my acceptance, the School of Public Health tried to change my position to 25% FTE with no benefits and a pay cut. Even just one of these changes is a complete contract violation; and yet the School was trying to impose all three. I felt trapped, unsure about my options, and (at first) quite alone. However, I contacted my department’s union steward, who helped me file a grievance with our contract enforcement team. Because of our collective power, the School of Public Health had to fully reinstate my 50% appointment, restore my tuition waiver, and cover my pay for the quarter! I can confidently say the strong contract we all have fought for, and our dedication to enforcing it, saved my job. That’s the power of having union peers willing to protect and advocate for one another!”
This Valentine’s Day, how about spreading the union love a bit? We all could use a little pick-me-up, and what’s a better boost than more scientific research funding? A new bond measure (SB 6321) aims to increase funding for scientific research at UW and across Washington State, and has its first hearing at the state legislature on Thursday, February 19th. Show your love and support by RSVPing to attend the rally in Olympia here!
Oh, and while you’re signing things, here’s one more quick thing to sign if you’re Research Staff:
Bargaining for your next contract will begin at the beginning of March! Sign on here to these Initial Bargaining Demands to show UW admin we stand united and have each other’s backs! Got input or see something that’s not in these demands, but should be? Contact the bargaining team: bargaining-RS@uaw4121.org, so we can make sure to have the strongest contract we can.
And as always, if you’re not totally loving something, you can take action: Talk to your department steward, join a workgroup, attend an event, speak up at a Monthly Membership Meeting! Our union relationships are dynamic; ever-evolving and thus, ever-strong.