June 5, 2023
UW is feeling the pressure, let’s keep it up!
Because of our continued organizing efforts, we did see some progress from UW in their last proposal:
- UW Admin has accepted our proposals for increases to the salary floors of each position in the unit which provide larger increases for the lowest paid workers who are struggling the most. Overall these increases total approximately 28% over three years.
- In addition, management agreed to re-provide the 3.25% increase from last year’s merit increases for those who didn’t receive an equivalent increase. Their first proposal was to offer this in the form of a lump-sum payment but we insisted it go to our base salaries, and they agreed. This is in addition to the across-the-board annual increases (their current proposal is 4%, 3%, 3%, effective September 1st each year).
That said, we do not believe these changes resulted in enough movement for us to recommend ratification.
- Management is still unwilling to agree to a childcare fund.
- UW finally made a proposal on the harassment prevention training program, EPIC, but their proposal provides no financial support for sustaining the program.
- Their proposed across the board annual wage increases of 4%, 3%, 3% did not change.
At 11:00 p.m. we ended negotiations for today but committed to having discussions tomorrow. Given the direction of today’s discussions we believe it’s imperative to continue to prepare to strike starting this Wednesday 6/7.
Here is what you need to do:
- Sign up for your picket shifts here; talk to your labmates and sign up together
- Communicate to your colleagues (template email to collaborators; out of office template)
- Please share the link to donate to our hardship fund with your networks.
- If you have questions, please review our FAQ, read the mailbag posts, or yesterday morning’s email. If you don’t see your question answered, please reach out to contact@uwresearchersunited.
org.
We have communicated to management that we remain available to continue bargaining in the coming 36 hours. If there is a fair contract to be reached prior to our strike date, we would like to do so. UW Admin has the ability to prevent this strike. We will operate under the assumption that we will be striking this Wednesday, so please complete items 1-4 above.
Please plan to join for a Mass Meeting on Zoom tonight, Tuesday, 6/6 at 5:30pm. Register here. You can read all the passed proposals at our bargaining portal website (please visit this page if the website has not been updated).
In solidarity,
UWRU/UAW Bargaining Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong
Nick Bolten
Jai Broome
Erin Carll
Morgan Crotta
Iván Cruz
Abby Gambrill
Jay Mas Gilvydis
Anya Kalata
Julia Kobelt
Katherine Lasdin
Ellen MacLachlan
Katie Osterhage
Deborah Nemens
Van Redila
Annelise Smith
Galen Stewart
Jacob Tietsort
Stacey Wedlake
Ryan Will
Tricia Wu