Strike day 3, bargaining updates, and commencement celebration picket External Inbox

June 10, 2023

Today’s rainy morning didn’t hold us back on the picket lines! We kept the tempo up (dance pickets, anyone?) and brought that energy to our Injury to One is an Injury to All Mass Action. Check out some of the coverage of our ongoing strike on CBS News, King 5, and follow us on social media (@uwrunited & @uaw4121) for more updates.

Mass Action: An Injury to One is an Injury to All Recap
RSEs, Postdocs, and community allies came out in force today to the intersection of 15th and Stevens to affirm our commitment to protecting and supporting each and every one of our members. Our power and strength in numbers was a clear response to the myriad of ways UW Admin attempted to isolate and threaten us in the first week of our strike. In particular, UW Admin deliberately targeted one of the most structurally vulnerable of us by singling out international scholars in an attempt to break the strike. But as our mass action today has shown, an injury to one, is an injury to all, and we are resolved to protect each other through visible and meaningful reaffirmations of solidarity.

We are still collecting signatures on our letter condemning UW’s deliberate targeting of international workers, and strongly encourage you to sign on and share this letter widely among your networks.

Bargaining Updates: 
Both bargaining teams met with Admin today over Zoom. No new proposals were exchanged. We have let them know we are available to bargain this weekend, but they declined and scheduled Postdoc bargaining for Monday, and Research Scientists on Tuesday.

Commencement Celebration Picket: 
Being on strike doesn’t mean we have to miss out on celebrating the amazing achievements of the students that we work with! We will be holding a friendly and celebratory picket at commencement this weekend to celebrate graduates. We will be showing up at Husky Stadium with a banner that says “UW workers  our grads” and will be congratulating grads, handing out balloons, flowers, and cards, and more. Join us! Wearing your old regalia or dressing up your blue shirts (any combo of fancy+union garb) is highly encouraged.

And while you’re at it, sign up for next week’s picket shifts, and reach out to picket-coordination@uaw4121.org if you are interested in being a picket coordinator. No experience necessary, training & resources will be provided!

Strike support logistics:

• If you haven’t had a chance to sign up yet, please don’t worry. We are looking for times next week as well.
• If you are unsure if you want to sign up for strike assistance, you can register for a link to the UAW portal now and you can decide to complete your registration at a later time.