Postdoc Bargaining Update
The Postdoc contract expired today. Postdocs won’t see any more movement on wages or other priorities until union members put pressure on UW Admin.
RSVP for the Massive March on the Boss
At the table, Postdocs reasserted our proposal to make two-year initial appointments while preserving some flexibility for faculty. Meanwhile, UW Admin didn’t feel the need to make any proposals on wages or immigration status and visas. That left 20 articles in their court.
UW Admin did pass a proposal on Non-Discrimination and Harassment, where they proposed moving discrimination protections on ethnic origin, medical condition, political affiliation, and union membership to the section on Workplace Behaviour instead of Discrimination and Harassment. However, when we asked UW Admin why they were moving the language, they refused to provide any reasoning for why. UW Admin also continued to dismiss our proposed Transition Support MOU.
Now that both Postdoc and Research Staff contracts are expired, UW Admin wants to hide behind a mediator. We have power through collective action, and on Wednesday September 23rd, UAW members are marching on the boss to fight for fair contracts!
Massive March on the Boss
UW has shown its lack of commitment to reach agreements at the bargaining table. They are using the current regressive federal policies as an excuse to erode protections for minorities, to deny safety to international researchers, and to avoid raising wages to keep up with inflation. In short: UW is using Trump as an excuse to be cheap and horrible. UW: time is up! UAW 4121 members are showing UW Admin their actions are unacceptable, and that the UW community at large rejects UW Admin’s craven strategy. Last Thursday August 27th, over 150 UAW 4121 members met during the emergency monthly membership meeting to make a plan to win this bargaining cycle. Every UW researcher can do 3 things to help us win:
- Join your union as a member and come to our actions.
- Come to the Massive March on the Boss with all your coworkers on September 23th at noon on campus. We are 1800 Research Staff, 700 Postdocs, and 6000 Academic Student Employees. UW Admin can not ignore ALL OF US!
- Postdocs and Research Staff are pledging to vote yes in a strike authorization vote.
Steward Elections Timeline
All Steward positions, and open seats on our union’s Executive Board and Joint Council, are up for election in October!
The timeline for the election is as follows (all times in PDT):
- Nomination Period: 9am Friday, Sept 24 – 11:59pm Friday, Oct 9
- Candidate Statement Collection (for contested positions): 9am Friday, Sept 24 – 11:59pm Monday, Oct 12
- Voting (for contested positions): 9am Friday, Oct 16 – 11:59pm Friday, Oct 23
- Runoff (if needed): 9am Monday, Oct 26 – 11:59pm Wednesday, Oct 28
The Election will be officially announced on September 24th at our Monthly Membership Meeting.
Request Your Replacement Ballot!
UAW 4121 members have received their ballots for the UAW International Executive Board elections! If you don’t have it
- Update your mailing address in Workday
- Request a new ballot by calling the election vendor’s hotline at 855-433-8683. The hotline will be open Monday – Friday from 5 am – 5 pm PT, and Saturday 5 am – 1 pm PT.
- If you’re an ASE, confirm your graduate student status
Join your union to cast your vote if you are not already a member. And ask your coworkers to join their union so they can vote.
If you have questions, be sure to talk to your fellow UAW members, including by joining Slack.
CA Research Bond on the 2028 March Ballot!
UAW Members in California helped write a bill and fought all year to get a $7.5 billion research bond before voters in March of 2028. Here in Washington, UAW members are organizing to pass a $6 billion research bond through the 2027 State Legislature. To help fund this campaign for research funding, increase your VCAP contribution if you’re eligible to vote in the US or a green card holder, and be on the lookout for canvassing opportunities and lobby days in Olympia.
Solidarity Round-up
UniteHere! Local 8 is on strike
Have you recently gone to the train station and heard a ruckus out by Embassy Suites? The hotel workers there have been on strike since June 18! They are demanding livable wages and guaranteed protection from ICE. You can support them on the picket line from 7 am to 1pm any day or your can contribute to their strike fund.
Boycott Starbucks
Starbucks thinks they can deny baristas a decent contract and expects you to ignore this injustice and drink away. They are wrong: our caffeinating comrades are calling a boycott, and UAW 4121 members are supporting them by not buying any Starbucks until Starbucks Workers United gets a fair contract. In the meantime, support your local independent coffee shop.
Labor Day
MLK Labor is bringing Labor Day back to Angle Lake Park in SeaTac. This will be a family-friendly event with hot dogs, ice cream, and a splash park for kids. It’s open to all union members and their families from 11 am-1 pm.
Seattle Educator Association Solidarity
The Seattle Education Association is fully prepared to strike and is asking community supporters to email the school board to direct the superintendent to agree to a contract that centers student success. You can email using this form or emailing the board directly at school board@seattleschools.org.
In Solidarity,
Natalie Wellen
Jacob (Jake) Sacks
Cassandra Henderson
Mateo Lopez Espejo
Winston Cuddleston
Haruki Hirasawa
Abby Gambrill
Joice Tang
Lou Baker
Cirstyn Michel
Jenna Morris
Katie Osterhage
Ellen Graham
Anastasia Schaadhardt
Gourav Khullar
Valerie Bentivegna
Joey Schafer
Sophie Hurwitz
Alana Dee
Stella Heflin
Cailin Jordan
Shirley Mathur
Lisa Carr
Izzy Chaiken
Iván Cruz
Lucas O’Bryan
Gracy Shaw
Tess Grover
Evan Howard
Nicholas Shane Patrick
KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard
Jessamy Johnson