Your Ratification Vote Ballot and Contract Info – Vote today!

Last week, more than 1000 members voted in a straw poll and demonstrated an investment in fighting to improve the administration’s last, best, and final offer. We returned to bargaining on Tuesday, and thanks to a powerful turnout to the Board of Regents meeting, moved management to offer additional increases to wages and the EPIC program. With those improvements, we tentatively agreed to the contract, pending formal ratification vote by members. The majority of the Bargaining Committee is recommending a Yes vote – you can find statements for and against ratification here.

The final decision on the contract lies with membership — no contract can be final unless a majority of voting members decide to approve. This vote will close this Friday 5/28 at 5pm Pacific Time, and it’s critical that everyone vote to ensure the decision is as inclusive and representative as possible. For more information, please continue reading! 

Please take a moment to cast your ballot!

What does this ratification vote mean?  

In short, this vote enables members to democratically weigh in on the terms and conditions of the university’s proposed contract. A simple majority of those voting determines the outcome of the vote. However, for the vote to be representative and powerful, it’s critical for a supermajority of ASEs to participate.

What would it mean to vote to ratify this offer?

If a majority of those voting accept the tentative agreement, the new contract would take effect immediately upon the conclusion of the ratification vote. Wage increases would go into effect on July 1. Union members would continue organizing across campus to improve our working and living conditions over the next three years and build power before the next bargaining cycle and push for concrete changes in the meantime through organizing at department, working group, and cross-local levels. Read more about positions in favor of accepting here.

What would it mean to vote to reject this offer?

If a majority of those voting reject the tentative agreement, we would continue bargaining during the “evergreen period”, which preserves most, though not all, provisions of our current contract. To get any positive results from further bargaining sessions we would need to escalate our organizing towards significant disruptive action, likely in the form of a strike that would need to be authorized by members. Read more about positions in favor of rejecting here.

What are the terms of the tentative agreement that we’re voting on?

You can read more about the specific terms of the tentative agreement at the following links: email summary, chart summary, full contract language.

What are arguments for and against this offer?

Check out statements from Bargaining Committee members and other active organizers here. There will also be open discussion sessions every day until the vote closes, where members can ask questions and discuss the contract. You can find the times for these sessions and RSVP here.

How long is the vote open? How will we be notified of the results?

The vote will open in the morning of Friday 5/21 through Friday 5/28 at 5 PM Pacific Time. Members will be notified via email and on the website of the results the evening of 5/28.

How can I get more information or give more feedback?

Join open info & discussion sessions office hours, held daily between Thurs 5/20 and Friday 5/28. RSVP here for zoom information! You can also email ase-bargaining-team@uaw4121.org, contact your department steward, or raise questions on the Slack.

Please take a moment to cast your ballot!

In solidarity,

UAW 4121 Bargaining Committee