TL;DR: We’ve taken several actions to support science funding and international students over the past month, and received our contracted $800 bonus! Next month: executive board and steward elections.
Happy May Day!
On this International Workers’ Day, let’s reflect on the ways our local has begun to take shape in the months since our contract ratification, and look forward to the month of May.
April was incredibly busy, between the benefits that came with the official start of our contract (including an $800 bonus!), and the collective actions we took to resist the Trump administration’s sweeping attacks on academia.
- April 1st: Official start of Caltech’s first ever union contract
- April 8th: Assembled in front of the federal building along with UAW 872 (USC) to join a nationwide day of action to protect science funding
- April 23rd: Successful first membership meeting where we set up processes for our first executive board and steward election
- April 25th: Delivered a letter to President Rosenbaum demanding that the Institute take measures to support international scholars in the wake of wide-reaching visa revocations
- Collective pressure from the public, unions, and the court system recently resulted in the reinstatement of some workers’ SEVIS statuses
- April 25th: Woke up to an extra $800 included in this month’s paycheck thanks to the ratification bonus we negotiated in our contract!
What can we expect this month?
Our union’s first executive board and steward elections will be happening sometime this month, per the UAW Constitution. At April’s membership meeting, our first Election Committee was formed of members who will plan and oversee this process. Look out for an email from them with details of when, where, and how the election will take place, as well as how to nominate yourself for a position.
A reminder that only members are able to run and vote in executive board and steward elections. Sign up to become a member so you are able to partake in our union’s democratic process.
As always, if you have any questions, want to get involved, or suspect a possible grievance, email organize@cgpu.org.