It was a beautiful day to be out on the picket lines, coming together to support each other and make our voices heard. On Friday (6/9) at 2pm, we will gather at the picket line at 15th and Stevens Way to stand united against UW Admin’s bullying tactics to round out our first week. Sign up for next week’s shifts here.
If you haven’t signed on to the letter condemning UW for their attempt to intimidate international scholar members, please take a moment to add your name now.
Here is a quick digest of our second day on strike for equitable contracts:
In the morning, we greeted President Cauce and the rest of the Board of Regents as they entered Suzzallo for their June meeting. We asked them what they were doing to end the strike by agreeing to equitable contracts, and whether they were aware of UW’s scare tactics targeting visa holders.
Throughout the day, countless campus workers refused to cross picket lines in solidarity, including many delivery truck drivers. We had some amazing interactions with people passing by all our picket lines! At Montlake we talked with a worker from the hospital kitchens, who reported that our strike was inspiring her and her coworkers. One of their coworkers brought us amazing homemade bread rolls! We were also joined by faculty – including one sporting full regalia. We kept up the solidarity spirits high at 15th & Stevens, and 45th and Memorial Drive with music, including some top-notch drumming and songs with custom lyrics.
Not to mention, picket pups were out in full force today building pawlidarity with us all!
We also have a strong turnout from Researchers and Postdocs who cannot physically be at the picket lines but are still committed to remote picketing and critical behind-the-scenes work. We have been reaching out to UW Admin, connecting with fellow Researchers and Postdocs to encourage them to picket and address questions and concerns, and making social media happen.
It was so amazing and inspiring to be out on the picket lines today – let’s keep the energy up for tomorrow!
Strike Assistance Pay
RSEs should continue to fill out Authorization Cards to be eligible for strike pay. Fill out a card here. All Postdoc union members are already eligible. This strike assistance pay comes from the UAW International’s strike fund, which was established through members’ collective dues as a way to further the power of a strike by offsetting potential financial impacts.
Please note that strike assistance pay this first week is prorated. Future weeks are not prorated (you will get either $0 or $500 assuming we are on strike for the full calendar week), so please make sure you sign in for 20 hours each week to receive pay. Strike captains have a link to the sign-in form.
Strike Assistance Counselors are available to explain the schedule of benefits, eligibility, and collect the information needed for strike assistance. They can walk you through the process of how to sign up and log shifts to qualify for strike pay.
- Friday 6/9: SLU campus Station at Building F-106 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and F-107 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Information for remote picketing strike pay will be shared in the relevant Slack channel. Please sign up for a picket shift and select remote picketing if you are unable to picket on campus.
- Additional locations and times may be available over the weekend.
- Come prepared with your UW Employee ID number (it’s on your UPASS and in Workday)
Make sure to sign in at the start of every shift! Your Picket Captain will be able to help you with this. Applications for additional financial support through the Hardship fund will open on 6/20.
Strike Day 3 Logistics
All who signed up for a picket shift should have received an email from their picket captain with their time and location for tomorrow. If you have not received an email, just show up at one of the four picket locations for a shift tomorrow, and for the remaining day this week, please sign up for your picket shifts here.
Please prioritize attending the mass action at 2pm to stand united against UW Admin’s bullying tactics. We will be meeting at the picket line at 15th & Stevens Way.
Locations and times
Pickets will run from 5am to 5pm and there are three shifts. Please be sure to check in with your shift coordinator when you arrive (this will ensure you qualify for strike pay).
- 5-9am
- 9am-1pm
- 1-5pm
Pickets will be in the following locations
- NE 45th St & Memorial Way NE (SW corner)
- 15th Ave NE & W Stevens Way NE (NE corner)
- Montlake Triangle: NE Pacific St & Montlake Blvd NE
- SLU: Mercer St (between 8th and 9th Ave N)
Items we recommend you bring to your picket shift
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Battery pack (if needed for device)
- Bluetooth speaker
- Feel free to bring entertainment: (musical instruments, lawn games)
Picket lines are open to the whole community. Family, friends are welcome and encouraged to join.
Remote Picket Session
If you are located out of state, you will be able to picket remotely. Remote shifts will run from 9am-1pm. All remote picketers need to sign up for your picket shifts. Information about shift responsibilities will be shared with remote picketers.
Bargaining Updates
Management finally reached out over email this afternoon to ask to set up meetings with both bargaining teams. On Friday morning, each bargaining team will meet (separately) with Management, and we will share updates following the meeting.
The power we’re building is crucial to ensuring that RSEs and Postdocs can thrive at the UW in the long-term; together we will win the fair contracts we deserve.
If you have questions related to picket line logistics, please email picket-coordinators@uaw4121.
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