January 26, 2022
Thanks for your continued support for the UWRU unionization campaign. We’re writing with a brief update and to invite you to a meeting for UW Research Scientist Seniors/Principals on Wednesday 02/02 at 5:30PM to discuss our current status and make plans.
Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85999196399?pwd=dHdsMC9aeFVkbElaNHRIU0pHeXRxdz09
RSVP to attend
As you might have heard, Research Scientist/Engineers (RSEs) in the Assistant-4 job titles recently filed a petition with the state labor board (or PERC, Public Employment Relations Commission) seeking union recognition after a majority signed union authorization cards. This initiates the certification process for this unit; PERC has requested a list from the University administration of employees in these job titles and will compare it with the signed cards to verify majority support. Entering this phase of the campaign is a big step forward and places another group of UW Researchers closer to winning a collective bargaining agreement.
We are continuing outreach efforts to UW Research Scientist Seniors/Principals as well, and support for unionization remains strong among those we’ve managed to contact. In our meeting on 02/02/2022 we’ll discuss the relationship between the A-4 unit and UW Research Scientist Seniors/Principals, as well as brainstorm organizing strategies and sketch possible timelines for asserting our majority support and being able to bargain with the University administration. We hope you can attend this important discussion, or if you can’t but would like to schedule time to talk to a colleague who is active in the campaign please email us at contact@uwresearchersunited.org.
Thanks again and best wishes during these challenging times.
Your fellow UW Research Scientist Seniors/Principals,
Irini Topalidou, Biochemistry
Laura Gibbons, Internal Medicine
Kelly Hudkins-loya, Pathology
Roxanne Carini, APL
Victor Han, Biology
Eliot George, APL