LOCAL
UW’s ‘threatening’ letter backfires, mobilizes student employees
The following is from UAW Local 4121:
Relying on partial truths and unfounded claims, the letter spoke directly to the ongoing Strike Authorization Vote being conducted by the union, in ways that appeared designed to intimidate and dissuade members from using the vote to communicate their dissatisfaction with recent bargaining developments from the university. The results of the Strike Authorization Vote will not be determined before Wednesday, April 22. Even so, the university’s move to threaten ASEs has resulted in further mobilization and commitment by members to demand an equitable, inclusive contract from their University.
The thinly veiled threats in the letter shocked and outraged members, mobilizing them to send a flood of angry responses to bargaining committee members. Subsequently, the union has created a Tumblr, “Responses to Letter from Dean Eaton,” to aggregate and publicize these responses as well as the original letter from the university. The union’s point-by-point response to the various pieces of misinformation in the letter can be found on the UAW 4121 website.
“I would say that if there wasn’t a reason to authorize the strike before, after that letter there is certainly a reason to authorize it now,” says Mike Katell, PhD student, at the Information School. “Make no mistake. The attached letter is a threat. It’s very important that you vote ‘Yes’ on the vote authorization ballot. The threat alone should be enough to convince you that the administration is not looking after your interests, only theirs.”
“Even as an international student, I know that I have the right to free speech and to fair working conditions and pay,” says Viral Shah, Masters student in Atmospheric Sciences. “This letter will not dissuade me from voting and expressing my frustration with the University’s intransigence in bargaining and their proposals to reduce fee waivers and impose new fees.”
Only a few bargaining days remain until the current contract expires on April 30. Members are agitated, frustrated, and impatient and they are making their voices heard.