November 29, 2022
Bargaining Updates!
We returned to bargaining yesterday! After a 6-week hiatus, management showed up this morning with zero proposals/counter-proposals after we had left them with eleven proposals on their plate. While they did later make a package proposal with some minor adjustments to previous proposals, this continues to demonstrate their lack of urgency in moving forward, again denying us the ability to receive the benefits of our already unnecessarily delayed contract.
Nevertheless, we pushed forward with our own proposals. Our bargaining team delivered a total of 34 proposals (31 RSE and 3 Postdoc articles) to UW admin. This represents a nearly comprehensive set of proposals for the contract. We proposed improvements to and protections around professional development, childcare, housing, and compensation, to highlight a few. Our initial compensation proposal includes a 6% raise retroactive to December 2021 to make up for the missing merit increases that UW Admin has denied multiple times in bargaining.
Additionally, as close colleagues working together at UW, RSEs and Postdocs collaboratively presented 6 proposals today on issues common to both units: non-discrimination and sexual harassment, disability accommodations, and the Empowering Prevention & Inclusive Communities training program.
You can see all of the proposals we passed yesterday, along with previously passed proposals at our Bargaining Center.
Our next day of bargaining is on 12/8/2022. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend, and reach out if you have any questions.
Save the date: DECEMBER 15th, midday!
Please go mark your calendars right now for our next Mass Meeting on December 15th midday (specific time TBD). This will be a critical moment to build pressure to win the contracts RSEs and Postdocs deserve.
Finally, in case you aren’t already a follower, a quick plug for our social media accounts; they are an easy way to stay in the loop: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
In solidarity,
UWRU/UAW Bargaining Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong
Leila Blair
Nick Bolten
Jai Broome
Erin Carll
Shelly Carpenter
Bonnie Chang
Morgan Crotta
Iván Cruz
Abby Gambrill
Jay Mas Gilvydis
Anya Kalata
Julia Kobelt
Katherine Lasdin
Ellen MacLachlan
Cara Margherio
Katie Osterhage
Deborah Nemens
Van Redila
Annelise Smith
Galen Stewart
Kambiz Tavabi
Jacob Tietsort
Stacey Wedlake
Ryan Will
Tricia Wu
Joshua Yee