TL;DR: Starting now you can sign up to be a member of your union, Local 2478! Majority membership demonstrates our commitment to keeping each other safe, strengthens our union, and drives contract enforcement. Ahead of our bylaws ratification vote, all members have until 3/16 to submit proposals for amendments via this form, to be voted on at a town hall on 3/19.
Now that we’ve ratified our first contract, Graduate Student Workers (GSWs) and Postdocs can officially start signing on to become union members! Strong membership is essential to building a strong union; high membership demonstrates to the Caltech administration that Graduate Student Workers and Postdocs are united and ready to exercise our rights, and ensures that GSWs and Postdocs, through our union, can pool our resources together to improve our working conditions.
Why should I become a union member?
Any union is only as strong as its membership. Our industry leading contract is a base that we need to build off. To guarantee that Caltech administration upholds the contract wins we fought so hard for, our contract has to be enforced day to day. A majority of GSWs and Postdocs signing up to become members is a clear demonstration to the administration that we are still committed to keeping each other safe by enforcing our contract. Check out how other UAW locals have successfully enforced their contracts through collective action here.
What does it mean to be a union member?
By becoming members, GSWs and Postdocs agree to contribute 1.44% of their salary in dues, pooling our resources to support contract enforcement and build power for another round of bargaining in two years. Members have voting rights in elections for union leadership and bylaws, and shape our union by joining committees or running in steward and leadership elections. For more information about union membership see the UAW 2478 website.
Why should I become a union member NOW?
The democratic structures, checks and balances, and processes we set up in our bylaws right now will dictate the course our union takes. By signing up to be a member right now and participating in a vote to ratify the 2478 Bylaws, GSWs and Postdocs get to decide how the first labor union at Caltech is run and organized. Bylaws are what govern the day-to-day operations of our union. Before the bylaws are put up for ratification there will be an opportunity to propose amendments to be included in the final document. Amendments must be submitted in writing via this town hall RSVP form, to be assessed for adherence to the UAW Constitution, before being discussed and voted on at a town hall on Wednesday, 3/19 at 5 PM. The last day to submit proposed amendments will be 3/16.
As usual, questions, comments, concerns, and potential violations of our new contract can be sent to organize@cgpu.org.
In solidarity,
Mike McKeon
GPS G6
Bylaws Committee Chair